A synthetic nuclease resistant antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) capable of selectively modulating human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) production and a pharmaceutical or medical composition comprising at least one AD-ODN as an active ingredient. In an embodiment the AS-ODN can be selected from 5'ACGCTTTCTTGAGGC 3' (SEQ ID NO.1), 5'GGCACCCTGGGCAGC 3' (SEQ ID NO.2); 5'CCACGTCCTCCTGCACCGTC 3' (SEQ ID NO.6); 5'ATGAACTCGATCTCGTAGCC 3' (SEQ ID NO.7); 5'GCCAGAGGAGGAGGAGAAGG 3' (SEQ ID NO.4); 5'TAGCGTCTACCACCCCTGAC 3' (SEQ ID NO.5), 5'TCTGTGTTATAGCCCAGCCC 3' (SEQ ID NO.17); and 5'GGCCTGTAACAGTTTATTT 3' (SEQ ID NO.18). A nuclease resistant antisense targeted against the splice junction in the AChEmRNA post splice message is disclosed. In an embodiment, a nuclease resistant AS-ODN targeted against the E4-E6 junction in the E1-E4-E6 splice variant AChEmRNA is disclosed as being highly specific for the muscle and central nervous system splice variant of AChE. The synthetic nuclease resistant AS-ODNs are capable of selectively modulating human AChE production in the central nervous system or capable of selectively reducing human AChE deposition in the neuromuscular junction. The present invention also provides a method to restore balanced cholinergic signaling in the brain and spinal cord or reduce AChE in the neuromuscular junction in patients in need of such treatment comprising administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of the synthetic nuclease resistant AS-ODN capable of selectively modulating human AChE production.
SYNTHETIC ANTISENSE OLIGODEOXYNUCLEOTIDES AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THEM