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The evolution of heart gene delivery vectors
Author(s) -
Wasala Nalinda B.,
Shin JinHong,
Duan Dongsheng
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of gene medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.689
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1521-2254
pISSN - 1099-498X
DOI - 10.1002/jgm.1600
Subject(s) - genetic enhancement , vector (molecular biology) , gene delivery , gene transfer , immunogenicity , plasmid , gene , viral vector , biology , computational biology , virology , genetics , recombinant dna , immune system
Abstract Gene therapy holds promise for treating numerous heart diseases. A key premise for the success of cardiac gene therapy is the development of powerful gene transfer vehicles that can achieve highly efficient and persistent gene transfer specifically in the heart. Other features of an ideal vector include negligible toxicity, minimal immunogenicity and easy manufacturing. Rapid progress in the fields of molecular biology and virology has offered great opportunities to engineer various genetic materials for heart gene delivery. Several nonviral vectors (e.g. naked plasmids, plasmid lipid/polymer complexes and oligonucleotides) have been tested. Commonly used viral vectors include lentivirus, adenovirus and adeno‐associated virus. Among these, adeno‐associated virus has shown many attractive features for pre‐clinical experimentation in animal models of heart diseases. We review the history and evolution of these vectors for heart gene transfer. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.