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Gene therapy progress and prospects: the eye

Gene Therapy volume 13, pages 1191–1197 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The eye has unique advantages as a target organ for gene therapy of both inherited and acquired ocular disorders and offers a valuable model system for gene therapy. The eye is readily accessible to phenotypic examination and investigation of therapeutic effects in vivo by fundus imaging and electrophysiological techniques. Considerable progress has been made in the development of gene replacement therapies for retinal degenerations resulting from gene defects in photoreceptor cells (rds, RPGRIP, RS-1) and in retinal pigment epithelial cells (MerTK, RPE65, OA1) using recombinant adeno-associated virus and lentivirus-based vectors. Gene therapy also offers a potentially powerful approach to the treatment of complex acquired disorders such as those involving angiogenesis, inflammation and degeneration, by the targeted sustained intraocular delivery of therapeutic proteins. Proposals for clinical trials of gene therapy for early-onset retinal degeneration owing to defects in the gene encoding the visual cycle protein RPE65 have recently received ethical approval.

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Acknowledgements

James Bainbridge is a Wellcome Advanced Fellow (Grant 074617/Z/04/Z); Mei Hong Tan is supported by the UK Department of Health.

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  1. Division of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK

    J W B Bainbridge, M H Tan & R R Ali

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  1. J W B Bainbridge
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Correspondence to R R Ali.

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Bainbridge, J., Tan, M. & Ali, R. Gene therapy progress and prospects: the eye. Gene Ther 13, 1191–1197 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3302812

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