Title: Gene Therapy: A Battle Against Biological Barriers
Volume: 1
Issue: 4
Author(s): Yasufumi Kaneda
Affiliation:
Keywords:
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), combined immunodeficiency, Retrovirus vecto, Adenovirus vector, Adeno-associated virus vector, Liposome DNA complex
Abstract: One factor critical to successful human gene therapy is development of efficient gene delivery systems. Although numerous vector systems for gene transfer have been developed, a perfect vector system has not yet been constructed. Difficulties of in vivo gene transfer appear to result from resistance of living cells to invasion by foreign materials and from interference of cellular functions. We should analyze what barriers in tissues affect in vivo gene transfection and how to solve these problems for gene therapy. In this review article, the biological barriers to in vivo gene transfection are discussed and possible solutions to each barrier are discussed with respect to construction of a perfect gene therapy vector system.
