Development of an HSV-based vector for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
The restricted pattern of neurodegeneration seen in Parkinson's disease, and the identification of trophic factors that prevent toxin-induced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, has spurred research into potential gene therapy for this disease. Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) is a neurotrophic virus which naturally establishes latency in neurons. HSV-based vectors have been demonstrated to transfer and transiently express transgenes in neurons in brain in vivo. Recent experiment have shown that deletion of multiple immediate-early HSV genes reduces the potential cytotoxicity of these vectors, and in addition results in altered patterns of transgene expression that may allow for long-term expression required for human gene therapy applications.
Fink
D J
DJ
Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
Poliani
P L
PL
Oligino
T
T
Krisky
D M
DM
Goins
W F
WF
Glorioso
J C
JC
D015870:Gene Expression; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation