Gene Therapy for Pain

Overview

Possible practical applications of gene therapy for pain are at the beginning. Very intensive research on animal modelshas been effectuated and some partial results of clinical applications in men already exist. The article describesdifferent possibilities of these applications, namely the application of viral vectors and antisense nucleotides as wellas the first experimental results of possible gene therapy. BDNF (brain derived nervous factor), herpes simplex virus,cytokine-interleukin 10, viral mediated transfer of the decarboxylase of the glumatic acid and down – regulatedgenes are recently used. Exprimation of β endorphin is also possible. In the article describes also possible molecularand gene therapy of pain and the molecular neurosurgical approach to the treatment of pain, which is called themolecular neurosurgery. From all these results it is possible to conclude, that gene therapy will be definitely usedfor the treatment of pain and that only the intensive research in this field may bring some important results.

Key words:
pain, gene therapy, BDNF, viruses, cytokins, molecular neurosurgery.