5. Principles and methods of gene therapy Flashcards
What is gene therapy?
Treatment and correction of disease via gene transfer
What ilnesses can gene therapy treat?
Inherited/acquired diseases Cancer (most heavily researched right now) Virus infections
What is the goal of gene therapy?
Effectively deliver a gene to the disease site with subsequent expression, of a therapeutic protein, under physiologic conditions
What is a phase 1 trial?
small ~ 15 individuals Determines toxicity
What is a phase 2 trial?
10-50, individuals Tests efficacy/delivery methods Gather data on effectiveness
What is a phase3/4 trial?
Large trial ~several hundred Determine safety and effectiveness
What are the most common genes transferred in current clinical trials?
Antigens
What is transduction?
Process whereby DNA is transferred from one bacterium to another by a virus (e.g. via vector)
What is a transposon?
DNA sequence that can change its position within the genome
What is a retrotransposon?
DNA sequence that can move and amplify itself via reverse transcription
What are long terminal repeats? (LTRs)
Identical sequences of DNA that repeat hundreds of times, found at either end of retrotransposons. They are used by viruses to insert genetic material
What are the current 3 approaches to gene therapy?
1) Gene addition 2) Gene replacement 3) Gene silencing
What are the two types of delivering therapeutic transgenes to patients?
Direct Delivery (virus injected straight to patient Cell-based (indirect) delivery - adult stem cells introduced to virus in vitro - modified cells reintroduced to patient
What are the advantages of direct delivery?
Simplicity
What are the advantages of indirect (ex vivo) delivery?
Cells manipulated more precisely Can be expanded Better tissue targeting`
What are the disadvantages of direct (in vivo) delivery?
Little control of therapeutic gene Random integration into chromosomes Poor tissue targeting specificity
What are the disadvantages of indirect delivery?
Relatively complex-cell isolation and proagation Cell biomarker knowledge Possible cell transformation