title: Ex vivo gene transfer in the years to come.
abstract: Synovial fibroblasts (SFs) have become a major target for ex vivo gene transfer in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but efficient transduction of RA-SFs still is a major problem. The low proliferation rate and heterogeneity of RA-SFs, together with their lack of highly specific surface receptors, have hampered a more extensive application of this technique. Improving transduction protocols with conventional viral vectors, therefore, as well as developing novel strategies, such as alternative target cells, and novel delivery systems constitute a major challenge. Recent progress in this field will lead to the achievement of high transgene expression, and will facilitate the use of gene transfer in human trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Rheumatology, Center of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Magdeburg, Germany. thomas.pap@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pap
authors.forename: Renate E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller-Ladner
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gay
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000639:trends*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000166:cytology