HVJ-based non-viral gene transfer method: successful gene therapy using HGF and VEGF genes in experimental ischemia.
VEGF and HGF are pleiotropic factors that regulate cell growth, cell motility, and morphogenesis of various types of cells. The receptors of these growth factors are expressed in neurons and endothelial cells, and are identified as neurotrophic, neuroprotective, and angiogenic factors. Indeed, gene therapy using viral vectors encoding the VEGF or HGF gene has been reported to be effective for preventing the expansion of ischemic injury. However, the safety issue of viral vectors is a major problem in clinical application. To overcome this problem, we have developed an HVJ-based non-viral vector, which achieves high-efficiency transfection rates of viral vectors with the safety of liposomes. This review discusses the feasibility of gene therapy using an HVJ-based non-viral vector containing the VEGF or HGF gene for cerebral ischemia.
Shimamura
Munehisa
M
Division of Clinical Gene Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan.
Sato
Naoyuki
N
Yoshimura
Shinichi
S
Kaneda
Yasufumi
Y
Morishita
Ryuichi
R
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D005849:Gerbillinae; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010477:Perfusion; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D029082:Sendai virus / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
D008081:Liposomes; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor