Gene therapy for proliferative ocular diseases

Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2004 Jul;4(7):1053-8. doi: 10.1517/14712598.4.7.1053.

Abstract

Proliferative ocular diseases encompass a wide variety of pathological processes with adverse cellular differentiation, proliferation and migration as common features. Pathologies may involve neovascular responses associated with diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity or age-related macular degeneration. These diseases are quite prevalent and account for substantial visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Although treatment strategies are largely surgical, advances in our understanding of the proteins crucial to cell transdifferentiation, proliferation and migration, along with better gene transfer techniques, have greatly increased the potential for biological treatment options. In this report, the most common proliferative ocular vascular diseases and existing therapeutic modalities will be reviewed and an overview of possible gene therapy options will be discussed, along with potential candidate genes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Aged
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Movement
  • DNA, Recombinant / therapeutic use
  • Dependovirus / genetics
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / therapy
  • Eye Diseases / pathology
  • Eye Diseases / therapy*
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Liposomes
  • Macular Degeneration / therapy
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Catalytic / therapeutic use
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity / therapy
  • Retroviridae / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Recombinant
  • Liposomes
  • RNA, Catalytic