Search results for "Gene Therapy"

DEVELOPMENT OF S/MAR MINICIRLES VECTOR FOR PERSISTENT EXPRESSION IN VIVO.

2009

An ideal vector for gene therapy must fulfil the following requirements: non-toxicity, mitotic stability and persistent therapeutic levels of transgene expression. Viral vectors are widely used due to their ability to sustain prolonged expression. Their potentially tumorigenic effects are a limiting factor for in vivo applications. Non-viral vectors, which can be designed to be free from viral sequences, are a promising alternative for gene transfer although they often produce transient transgene expression. This limitation of this vector type is primarily due to bacterial sequences they contain and these have proven to be toxic for the mammalian cells as they contain a high number of unmet…

Development of S/MAR minicircles for enhanced and persistent transgene expression in the mouse liver.

2010

We have previously described the development of a scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR) episomal vector system for in vivo application and demonstrated its utility to sustain transgene expression in the mouse liver for at least 6 months following a single administration. Subsequently, we observed that transgene expression is sustained for the lifetime of the animal. The level of expression, however, does drop appreciably over time. We hypothesised that by eliminating the bacterial components in our vectors, we could improve their performance since bacterial sequences have been shown to be responsible for the immunotoxicity of the vector and the silencing of its expression when applied i…

Treatment of Anderson-Fabry Disease

2020

Fabry disease is an X-linked disorder of glycosphingolipid metabolism that results in progressive accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids, predominantly globotriaosylsphingosine (Gb3) in lysosomes, as well as other cellular compartments of several tissues, causing multi-organ manifestations (acroparesthesias, hypohidrosis, angiokeratomas, signs and symptoms of cardiac, renal, cerebrovascular involvement). Pathogenic mutations lead to a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (GLA). In the presence of high clinical suspicion, a careful physical examination and specific laboratory tests are required. Finally, the diagnosis of Fabry’s disease is confirmed by the demonstrat…

Towards therapeutic gene delivery to human cancer cells : targeting and entry of baculovirus

2008

Geeniterapia on yksi tulevaisuuden hoitomuodoista taistelussa syöpää vastaan. Virukset ovat evoluution myötä kehittyneet tehokkaiksi geeninsiirtäjiksi ja ovat nykyään käytetyimpiä geeninsiirtovektoreita. Yksi geenihoitojen yleistymisen esteistä on kuitenkin ollut virusvektoreiden puutteellinen kohdennus haluttuun kudokseen. Kohdentaminen on erityisen tärkeää syövän hoidossa, jotta hoito vaikuttaisi pääasiassa pahanlaatuisiin soluihin.Mäkelä kehitti tutkimuksessaan syöpäsoluihin kohdentuvia bakulovirusperäisiä geeninsiirtovektoreita. Hän tutki myös viruksen sisäänmenomekanismeja ja kulkeutumista kohdesoluissa.- Hyönteisiä infektoiva bakulovirus on luontaisesti vaaraton ihmisille. Se on helpo…

How is the biocompatibilty of dental biomaterials evaluated?

2007

All biomaterials used in dentistry must be evaluated for biocompatibility using screening assays to protect patient health and safety. The purpose of this review is to explain the international biocompatibility guidelines, and to explain the structure of a test program. The test program requires the structured assessment of materials into four phases; general toxicity, local tissue irritation, pre-clinical, and clinical evaluation. Different types of screening assays are available, and it is important to understand the advantages and limitations of the various types of assays that are available, so that they can be selected for appropriateness and interpreted accurately. New scientific adva…

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization for Gene Therapy: The Combination of G-CSF+Plerixafor in Patients with Beta-Thalassemia Major Provides High Yiel…

2015

Abstract Hematopoietic stem cell engineering is a promising therapy to cure b-thalassemia, in particular for patients who lack a suitable BM donor for allogeneic transplantation. Since the engrafted gene-corrected stem cells will not have any selective advantage over the unmodified ones, the effectiveness of the therapy in this setting largely depends on the infusion of high numbers of gene-modified cells and on the conditioning regimen. The quality of the infused cells is also crucial for the clinical outcome and the duration of the therapeutic effect. HSPCs mobilization, particularly when G-CSF and plerixafor are used in combination, has been proved to be the optimal approach to harvest a…

Suppression and Replacement Gene Therapy for Autosomal Dominant Disease in a Murine Model of Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa

2011

For dominantly inherited disorders development of gene therapies, targeting the primary genetic lesion has been impeded by mutational heterogeneity. An example is rhodopsin-linked autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa with over 150 mutations in the rhodopsin gene. Validation of a mutation-independent suppression and replacement gene therapy for this disorder has been undertaken. The therapy provides a means of correcting the genetic defect in a mutation-independent manner thereby circumventing the mutational diversity. Separate adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors were used to deliver an RNA interference (RNAi)-based rhodopsin suppressor and a codon-modified rhodopsin replacement gene res…

Immunological Monitoring to Rationally Guide AAV Gene Therapy

2013

Recent successes with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies fuel the hope for new treatments for hereditary diseases. Pre-existing as well as therapy-induced immune responses against both AAV and the encoded transgenes have been described and may impact on safety and efficacy of gene-therapy approaches. Consequently, monitoring of vector- and transgene-specific immunity is mandated and may rationally guide clinical development. Next to the humoral immune response, the cellular response is central in our understanding of the host reaction in gene therapy. But in contrast to the monitoring of antibodies, which has matured over many decades, sensitive and robust monitoring of T cel…

Effect of composition of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles on their chemical-physical properties and potential for gene therapy

2015

Antitumor Cell-Complex Vaccines Employing Genetically Modified Tumor Cells and Fibroblasts

2014

The present study evaluates the immune response mediated by vaccination with cell complexes composed of irradiated B16 tumor cells and mouse fibroblasts genetically modified to produce GM-CSF. The animals were vaccinated with free B16 cells or cell complexes. We employed two gene plasmid constructions: one high producer (pMok) and a low producer (p2F). Tumor transplant was performed by injection of B16 tumor cells. Plasma levels of total IgG and its subtypes were measured by ELISA. Tumor volumes were measured and survival curves were obtained. The study resulted in a cell complex vaccine able to stimulate the immune system to produce specific anti-tumor membrane proteins (TMP) IgG. In the g…