title: Gene therapy to bet on: protecting neurons from stress hormones.
abstract: Glucocorticoids are adrenal steroid 'stress' hormones that are important in normal brain function. However, during conditions of excitotoxic injury to neurons, glucocorticoids can exacerbate cell death. A recent study has developed a 'trifecta' of ingenious viral vector-based approaches to modify the neuronal stress response and to diminish this exacerbation both in vitro and in vivo. Stress hormone gene therapy in the brain is now off and running.
authors.affiliation: The Rockefeller University, Department of Neuroendocrinology, 1230 York Avenue, Box 165, New York, NY 10021-6399, USA.
authors.forename: Keith T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Akama
authors.forename: Bruce S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: McEwen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids