title: New gene therapy strategies for hepatic fibrosis.
abstract: The liver is the largest internal organ of the body, which may suffer acute or chronic injury induced by many factors, leading to cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Cirrhosis is the irreversible end result of fibrous scarring and hepatocellular regeneration, characterized by diffuse disorganization of the normal hepatic structure, regenerative nodules and fibrotic tissue. Cirrhosis is associated with a high co-morbidity and mortality without effective treatment, and much research has been aimed at developing new therapeutic strategies to guarantee recovery. Liver-based gene therapy has been used to downregulate specific genes, to block the expression of deleterious genes, to delivery therapeutic genes, to prevent allograft rejection and to augment liver regeneration. Viral and non-viral vectors have been used, with viral vectors proving to be more efficient. This review provides an overview of the main strategies used in liver-gene therapy represented by non-viral vectors, viral vectors, novel administration methods like hydrodynamic injection, hybrids of two viral vectors and blocking molecules, with the hope of translating findings from the laboratory to the patient's bed-side.
authors: Adriana M Salazar-Montes, Luis D Hernández-Ortega, Martha S Lucano-Landeros, Juan Armendariz-Borunda, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Institute for Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44281, México.
authors: Adriana M
authors: AM
authors: Salazar-Montes
authors: Adriana M Salazar-Montes, Luis D Hernández-Ortega, Martha S Lucano-Landeros, Juan Armendariz-Borunda, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Institute for Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44281, México.
authors: Luis D
authors: LD
authors: Hernández-Ortega
authors: Adriana M Salazar-Montes, Luis D Hernández-Ortega, Martha S Lucano-Landeros, Juan Armendariz-Borunda, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Institute for Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44281, México.
authors: Martha S
authors: MS
authors: Lucano-Landeros
authors: Adriana M Salazar-Montes, Luis D Hernández-Ortega, Martha S Lucano-Landeros, Juan Armendariz-Borunda, Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Institute for Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44281, México.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Armendariz-Borunda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Gene therapy; Hepatic fibrosis; Non-viral vectors; Viral vectors