Genomic medicine: exploring the basis of a new approach to endocrine hypertension.
Recent improvements in defining the molecular basis of disease have encouraged scientists worldwide to develop new therapeutic strategies based on engineered genes and cells. Genomic medicine has the potential to revolutionize diagnosis and therapy of a variety of human diseases, including endocrine disorders. Hypertension is the presenting feature of some of these disorders, such as congenital adrenal diseases, and adrenal and pituitary tumors. Preclinical data indicate that gene transfer to both the adrenal gland and the pituitary is not only feasible but also quite efficient. Research in this field is only in its infancy, but with the ever-increasing advances in DNA technologies, genomic therapies for endocrine hypertension may become available within the next few decades.
Alesci
Salvatore
S
Pediatric and Reproductive Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH, Building 10, Room 9D42, 10 Center Drive MSC 1583, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. alescis@mail.nih.gov
Chrousos
George P
GP
Pacak
Karel
K
D004702:Endocrine Glands / Q000502:physiology; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy