Goya R G, Bolognani F, Hereñú C B, Rimoldi O J
Institute for Biochemical Research of La Plata - Histology 'B', Faculty of Medicine, National University of La Plata, Argentina.
Gerontology. 2001 May-Jun;47(3):168-73. doi: 10.1159/000052792.
This paper reviews the current status of gene therapy in the neuroendocrine system and discusses the interventive potential of this methodology for neuroendocrine pathologies associated with aging.
A brief description is first presented of the viral-vector-based gene delivery systems being currently used in the neuroendocrine system, namely the adenoviral and herpetic (HSV1) vector systems. Next, an account of the neuroendocrine pathologies for which gene therapy approaches in animal models are being implemented is provided. This includes the treatment of experimental pituitary tumors by adenoviral-vector-mediated transfer of the suicide gene for the HSV-1 thymidine kinase. At the hypothalamic level, an adenovirus harboring the cDNA for arginine vasopressin has been used in Brattleboro rats to correct their diabetes insipidus. Next, the interventive potential of gene therapy for correcting age-associated neurodegenerative processes at neuroendocrine level is outlined. Finally, the role that emerging technologies may play in the development of future genetic therapies for aging is considered.
Although effective implementation of gene therapy strategies still faces significant technical obstacles, these are likely to be progressively overcome as gene delivery systems are refined.
本文综述了神经内分泌系统中基因治疗的现状，并探讨了该方法对与衰老相关的神经内分泌疾病的干预潜力。
首先简要介绍了目前在神经内分泌系统中使用的基于病毒载体的基因递送系统，即腺病毒和疱疹病毒（HSV1）载体系统。接下来，介绍了正在动物模型中实施基因治疗方法的神经内分泌疾病。这包括通过腺病毒载体介导的HSV-1胸苷激酶自杀基因转移来治疗实验性垂体肿瘤。在下丘脑水平，携带精氨酸加压素cDNA的腺病毒已被用于布氏大鼠以纠正其尿崩症。接下来，概述了基因治疗在神经内分泌水平纠正与年龄相关的神经退行性过程的干预潜力。最后，考虑了新兴技术在未来衰老基因治疗发展中可能发挥的作用。
尽管基因治疗策略的有效实施仍面临重大技术障碍，但随着基因递送系统的完善，这些障碍可能会逐步克服。
