title: Gene therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Despite the fact that the etiopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus is largely unknown, key steps in the pathophysiology of the disease have been recognized and targeted using gene therapy techniques. In animal models of lupus, gene transfer has been used to block the action of pro-inflammatory cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules leading to clinical improvement. In humans, ex vivo experiments have shown the feasibility of gene transfer in live T cells and its potential for restoring normal phenotype in T cells from patients with lupus. Still in experimental phase, gene therapy in lupus promises to correct the aberrant immunological response without the numerous side-effects of the currently used immunosuppressant medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Kyttaris
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Sfikakis
authors.forename: Y-T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Juang
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tsokos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018925:Chemokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D023421:Models, Animal; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines