title: The use of recombinant adeno-associated virus for skeletal gene therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a comprehensive literature review describing recent developments of the recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector and exploring the therapeutic application of rAAV for bone defects, cartilage lesions and rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Narrative review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The review outlines the serotypes and genome of AAV, integration and life cycle of the rAAV vectors, the immune response and regulating system for AAV gene therapy. Furthermore, the advancements of rAAV gene therapy for bone growth together with cartilage repair are summarized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recombinant adeno-associated virus vector is perceived to be one of the most promising vector systems for bone and cartilage gene therapy approaches and further investigations need to be carried out for craniofacial research.
authors.affiliation: The Biomedical and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: A Bakr M
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rabie
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004274:DNA, Recombinant