Herpesviruses: expression of genes in postmitotic brain cells.
Gene transfer into neural cells in the adult mammalian brain using vectors derived from the herpes simplex virus HSV-1 has great promise both for elucidating neuronal physiology and brain mechanisms, and for gene therapy of neurological diseases. Two kinds of HSV-1 vectors are being explored: first, defective HSV-1 vectors are small plasmids containing essential HSV-1 cis-acting functions that use HSV-1 mutants as helper virus for packaging; and second, vectors that contain a recombinant gene inserted into the HSV-1 genome. Recently, several genes that alter neuronal physiology have been expressed from defective HSV-1 vectors, both in cultured neurons and in vivo.
Division of Endocrinology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
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Geller
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D002455:Cell Division; D003673:Defective Viruses / Q000502:physiology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006378:Helper Viruses / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000382:microbiology; D008938:Mitosis; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000382:microbiology*; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014775:Virus Activation; D014779:Virus Replication
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors