Prospects for gene-based immunopharmacology in salivary glands.
The clinical potential of gene transfer is increasing. One likely major application of this emerging biotechnology will be for gene therapeutics, the use of a gene as a drug. Salivary glands provide an unusual but increasingly valuable target site for gene transfer. Studies in animal salivary glands from several laboratories, including our own, have provided proof of this concept. In this review, we provide a background and perspective on possible strategies for gene-based immunopharmacology in salivary glands. We use as a target disease model the autoimmune exocrinopathy Sjögren's syndrome.
Yamano
S
S
Gene Therapy and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1190, USA.
Baum
B J
BJ
D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D016753:Interleukin-10