HISTOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Review

Gene therapy strategies in neurodegenerative diseases

M. Giménez y Ribotta

INSERM U.336. Development, Plasticity and Aging of the Nervous System, University of Montpellier II, Montpellier, France

Offprint requests to: Dr. Minerva Giménez y Ribotta, INSERM U.336, Développement, Plasticité et Vieillissement du Système Nerveux, Université Montpellier II, Place E. Bataillon. B.P. 106, 34095 Montpellier, France. Fax: (33) 467 143318. e-mail: mgyr@univ-montp2.fr

 

Summary. Treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by classical pharmacotherapy is restricted by blood-brain barrier which prevents access to the brain of potentially therapeutic molecules. Recent progress in the knowledge of pathophysiological molecular processes, and in the development of molecular biotechnology have opened the way to new therapeutic interventions for these disorders. This chapter reviews the most recent gene therapy strategies using experimental models for neurodegenerative diseases. Histol. Histopathol. 16, 883-893 (2001)

Key words: Gene therapy, Neurodegenerative diseases, Adenoviruses, Retroviruses, Motoneurons, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease

DOI: 10.14670/HH-16.883