Ex vivo gene transfer in the years to come
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* Corresponding author: Thomas Pap thomas.pap@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
1 Division of Experimental Rheumatology, Center of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Magdeburg, Germany
2 Center of Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
3 Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg, Germany
Arthritis Res 2002, 4:10-12 doi:10.1186/ar377
Published: 9 October 2001Abstract
Synovial fibroblasts (SFs) have become a major target for ex vivo gene transfer in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but efficient transduction of RA-SFs still is a major problem. The low proliferation rate and heterogeneity of RA-SFs, together with their lack of highly specific surface receptors, have hampered a more extensive application of this technique. Improving transduction protocols with conventional viral vectors, therefore, as well as developing novel strategies, such as alternative target cells, and novel delivery systems constitute a major challenge. Recent progress in this field will lead to the achievement of high transgene expression, and will facilitate the use of gene transfer in human trials.