title: Gene therapy in skin: choosing the optimal viral vector.
abstract: Skin is an ideal gene therapy target because it is readily accessible and is involved in many pathologic processes. Viruses are the most common gene vectors, however, few comparative studies exist examining their efficacy in skin. This study evaluates adenovirus serotype 5, adeno-associated virus type 2 and 5, MMLV-derived retrovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus-1 derived lentivirus for gene vector activity in human dermal fibroblasts and other skin cell lines. Human immunodeficiency virus-1-based lentiviral vector resulted in over 90% transduction in all cell lines tested. Transduced cells maintained reporter expression over several passages after a single exposure. In contrast, gene activity fell rapidly over cell divisions with adenoviral and adeno-associated vectors. Therefore, lentiviral vectors are the delivery mechanism of choice for long-term therapeutic gene expression in dermal fibroblasts and other skin cell lines, whereas adenoviral or adeno-associated vectors may be preferred for short-term therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Esther H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Elan D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Bomsztyk
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lyden
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Spector
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation / Q000821:virology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D016086:Lentivirus; D051379:Mice; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology