Gene therapy strategies for urological dysfunction.
Novel molecular techniques such as conventional and ex vivo gene therapy, and tissue engineering have only recently been introduced to the field of urology. The lower urinary tract is ideally suited for minimally invasive therapy, and also ex vivo approaches would limit the risk of systemic side effects. Muscle-derived stem cells have been used successfully to treat stress incontinence, and rats with diabetic bladder dysfunction benefited from nerve growth factor (NGF)-based gene therapy. Nitric oxide synthase and capase-7 might provide suitable gene therapy targets for erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia, respectively.
Chancellor
M B
MB
Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Suite 700 Kaufmann Building, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. chancellormb@msx.upmc.edu
Yoshimura
N
N
Pruchnic
R
R
Huard
J
J
D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000628:therapy; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000628:therapy*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D019737:Transplants; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000628:therapy*