Suicide gene therapy and the control of graft-vs-host disease.
Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as a cure for leukaemia and lymphoma is limited by the development of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD), an immunological reaction of the donor's T lymphocytes against the host's normal tissues. One therapeutic option to treat GVHD is the transfer of 'suicide' genes into the donor's T lymphocytes to render them susceptible to prodrug administration. This procedure should permit the elimination of unwanted T lymphocytes in GVHD. The main genes proposed for such a strategy will be described in this chapter, together with the advantages and limitations found during preclinical and clinical studies to date.
Introna
Martino
M
Laboratory of Cellular and Gene Therapy G. Lanzani, Division of Haematology, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Italy. mintrona@ospedaliriuniti.bergamo.it
Rambaldi
Alessandro
A
D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D041722:Genes, Transgenic, Suicide; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous