Experimental Study Of The Fas Ligand Gene Transfer To Corneal Tissues Of Rats Mediated By Adenovirus

Background:The concept of gene therapy involves the transfer of genetic material into a cell, tissue, or whole organ, with the goal of curing a disease or at least improving the clinical status of a patient. The potential therapeutic applications of gene transfer technology are enormous. A key factor in the success of gene therapy is the development of delivery systems that are capable of efficient gene transfer in avariety of tissues, without causing any associated pathogenic effects.The cornea is an excellent candidate for gene therapy because of its accessibility and immune-privileged nature. In the last two decades, transfer of cDNA to corneal cells has been accomplished using various viral and nonviral vectors. Of the currently available vectors, replication deficient adenovirus is an efficient vector for gene transfer to the cornea. Continued improvements in vectors for gene transfer will improve the efficacy and safety of gene therapy. We were keen to explore the efficacy of adenoviral vector transfer to the rat cornea in more depth.Gene-based interventions have been examined in specific corneal disorders such as allograft rejection, postexcimer laser scarring, and herpes simplex keratitis using...