Gene therapy in skin: choosing the optimal viral vector.

Skin is an ideal gene therapy target because it is readily accessible and is involved in many pathologic processes. Viruses are the most common gene vectors, however, few comparative studies exist examining their efficacy in skin. This study evaluates adenovirus serotype 5, adeno-associated virus type 2 and 5, MMLV-derived retrovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus-1 derived lentivirus for gene vector activity in human dermal fibroblasts and other skin cell lines.

A novel method for targeted gene therapy in ischemic tissues through viral transfection of an expression cassette containing multiple repetitions of hypoxia response element.

Background: Increased levels of the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1 occur only in hypoxic tissue. The authors propose a therapeutic strategy that relies on HIF-1, the enhancer hypoxia response element (HRE), and the delivery vector adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV2) to direct ischemia specific gene therapy to skin.

Methods: An expression cassette containing the CMV promoter driving the reporter gene green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used to assess cutaneous tropism of AAV2.

Postauricular cerebriform sebaceous nevus: case report and literature review.

Epidermal nevi are abnormal collections of cells derived from the embryonic epidermis. They are believed to represent cutaneous genetic mosaicism, with the histopathologic appearance related to mutations in genes involved in epidermal growth and differentiation. The clinical phenotype and potential inheritance are also related to these mutations and the time during embryogenesis when a mutation occurs.