Gene Transfer in the Cardiovascular System: Experimental Approaches and Therapeutic Implications: 189 (Developments in Cardiovascular Medicine, 189) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792398599 ISBN 13: 9780792398592

Publisher: Springer, 1997

Synopsis

The goal of gene transfer is protein expression. a process brought about by the insertion of a gene coding for a foreign protein into target cells resulting in the synthesis of the foreign protein For gene therapy, a tmnsferred therapeutic gene must be expressed at a level beneficial for the patient. This chapter provides an introductory overview of the rapidly evolving field of non-viral approaches for gene delivery to rnarnrnalian cells. Although currently there are fewer ongoing clinical trials using non-viral approaches than those using viral based systems, the number of non-viral trials is increasing. The long range goal of some research groups is the development of a genetically engineered artificial virus targeted to specific cells in the human body. An arurual conference, organized by Cambridge Healthtech Institute entitled "Artificial Self-Assembling Systems for Gene Transfer", brings together researchers interested in this field [1]. Assembly of an artificial virus is very complex; other research groups aim to develop simpler delivery systems consisting of a plasmid combined with delivery agents. Viral-based systems are very successful for gene delivery, but despite their successes, viral-based systems have some geneml limitations and system-specific limitations. When employing a viml-based system, the following limitations should be considered: • size limitation of the inserted gene due to packaging constraints (e. g. adenovirus, retrovirus) . • potential tumorigenesis (e. g. retrovirus) • potential for insertional mutagenesis (greater than plasmid based systems) • potential imrnunogenicity (e. g.

About this title

Synopsis

The use of gene transfer as a potential therapeutic approach represents a rapidly emerging field of basic and applied medical research that has recently begun to mature into initial clinical trials for a substantial variety of inherited as well as acquired diseases. The diseases which are being evaluated as potential targets for therapeutic approaches involving the use of genetic material encompass illnesses typically treated within a wide range of medical specialties. The field of cardiovascular medicine is no exception to this. The purpose of this text is to help those involved, considering involvement, or merely interested in the various aspects of gene transfer as it is being developed for the tissues of the cardiovascular system.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792398599
• ISBN 13: 9780792398592
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 536
• Editor: March Keith L.