[Gene therapy and Alzheimer's disease]

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2015 Apr;40(4):428-32. doi: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2015.04.015.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / therapy*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • tau Proteins