Electroporation-mediated gene therapy.
Non-viral gene transfer is markedly enhanced by the application of in vivo electroporation. Electroporation is a safe and efficient system to introduce genes to a wide variety of tissues, including skeletal muscle, tumors, kidney, liver and skin. Electroporation has been demonstrated to be effective in numerous disease models. This review focuses on the principles of electroporation and the target tissues employed for gene therapy. Based on the accumulation of positive results, the first clinical study for the treatment of malignant melanoma is now underway, and preclinical studies have suggested that electroporation is useful as a gene therapy protocol.
Isaka
Yoshitaka
Y
Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Divisions of Advanced Technology for Transplantation and Nephrology, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. isaka@att.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Imai
Enyu
E
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D018274:Electroporation; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D014018:Tissue Distribution