Methods for the Use of Genetically Modified Keratinocytes in Gene Therapy

Recent advances in molecular genetics have resulted in the development of new technologies for the introduction and expression of genes in human somatic cells. Recombinant retroviral vectors have become a popular method for introducing such genes, primarily because the frequency of gene transfer is usually high and the introduced genes are stably integrated into the host genome. Gene therapy and gene transfer technology, although typically thought of as a means to correct genetic disease, have other potential clinical applications in the areas of protein delivery and tissue engineering. Numerous types of cells/tissues have been successfully genetically modified and are potential targets for retroviral mediated gene therapy (1).The successful use of these tissues in gene therapy relies on methods to cultivate and transplant the cells after genetic modification.