Dysfunction of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the potential of gene therapy.
Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve causes vocal fold paresis or paralysis resulting in poor voice quality, and possibly swallowing dysfunction and/or airway compromise. Injury can occur as part of a neurodegenerative disease process or can be due to direct nerve trauma or tumor invasion. Management depends upon symptoms, the cause and severity of injury, and the prognosis for recovery of nerve function. Surgical treatment techniques can improve symptoms, but do not restore physiologic motion. Gene therapy may be a useful adjunct to enhance nerve regeneration in the setting of neurodegenerative disease or trauma. Remote injection of viral vectors into the recurrent laryngeal nerve is the least invasive way to deliver neurotrophic factors to the nerve's cell bodies within the nucleus ambiguus, and in turn to promote nerve regeneration and enhance both nuclear and nerve survival. The purpose of this review is to discuss the potential role for gene therapy in treatment of the unsolved problem of vocal fold paralysis.
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-2200, USA.
S Brett
SB
Heavner
Adam D
AD
Rubin
Kevin
K
Fung
Matthew
M
Old
Norman D
ND
Hogikyan
Eva L
EL
Feldman
D000818:Animals; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*
C485191:GFP10 Protein; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins