The controversial role of adenoviral-derived vectors in gene therapy programs: where do we stand?
The high immunogenicity of recombinant adenoviral vectors is one of the major issues in the field of gene therapy. Adenoviral-based vectors are susceptible both to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and humoral immune responses. In addition, leaky adenoviral genes also render transduced cells susceptible to host immune responses. These are the main reasons why adenoviral-based vectors are not suitable to correct genetic disorders, which require long-term expression of the transgene. Another limit to long-term transgene expression is posed by the fact that adenoviral-based vectors do not integrate their genome into the cellular chromosomal DNA of transduced cell populations. As it stands, adenoviral-mediated gene transfer is a promising tool for cancer therapy and for genetic immunization programs against infectious diseases, provided that host immune responses are carefully controlled.
Romano
Gaetano
G
Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Hospital for the Neurosciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. Gaetano.Romano@jefferson.edu
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy