[Gene therapy and Alzheimer's disease].
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the presence of extracellular β-amyloid in the senile plaques, intracellular aggregates of abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein in the neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal loss and cerebrovascular amyloidosis. The manifestations of clinical symptoms include memory impairment, cognitive decline, altered behavior and language deficit. Currently available drugs in AD therapy consist of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA receptor antagonists, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. These drugs can only alleviate the symptoms of AD. Gene therapy is achieved by vector-mediated gene transfer technology, which can delivery DNA or RNA into target cells to promote the expression of a protective or therapeutic protein and silence certain virulence genes.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha 410013; Medical Research Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Jian
J
Li
Wenwen
W
Li
Jun
J
Zhou
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016875:tau Proteins