Use of adhesion molecules for gene delivery.
Integrins are heterodimeric membrane glycoproteins important for interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix and with each other. However, integrins are also exploited as receptors by a number of bacterial, viral, and eukaryotic pathogens for cell binding and entry. This well-conserved pathway into the cell has now been exploited in the development of synthetic gene delivery systems for gene therapy. Peptides, such as the conserved arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif, provide convenient integrin-binding ligands for targeting polycationic complexes formed electrostatically with plasmid DNA. This review describes the development, advantages, and potential applications of such systems in gene therapy.
Hart
S
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Molecular Immunology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College of London Medical School, London, UK.
D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005813:Genes, Synthetic; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D009842:Oligopeptides; D055672:Static Electricity; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016023:Integrins; D008024:Ligands; D009842:Oligopeptides; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid