Intravenous gene therapy protects normal tissue of mice during whole-body...( LOS ANGELES Oct. 28 Gene therapy ad...)
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28 Gene therapy administered intravenously could be an effective agent to protect vital organs and tissues from the effects of ionizing radiation in the event of large-scale exposure from a radiological or nuclear bomb, according to an animal study presented today by University of Pittsburgh researchers at the 49th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in Los Angeles.
Ionizing radiation can be extremely damaging to cells, tissues, organs and organ systems, said Joel S. Greenberger, M.D., professor and chairman, department of radiation oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In previous studies, we demonstrated that gene therapy can be both swallowed in liquid form and inhaled through a nebulizer prior to radiation exposure to protect healthy tissues from damage. In this study, we found that the same therapy administered intravenously also offers protection during exposure to whole-body irradiation. Dr. Greenberger added that intravenous administration could potentially offer wide-reaching protection to the public in the event of a terrorist attack since experts believe a significant number of the population would die within 30 days of receiving a large dose of radiation to the entire body.
In the study, mice were used to test the protective effects of manganese superoxide dismutase plasmid liposome (MnSOD-PL) gene therapy on the bone marrow during whole-body irradiation. The researchers found that in a control group of mice that received an initial 9.5 Gy dose of radiation, 58 percent survived at 30 days compared to 90 percent after the same length of time for an experimental group of mice that were injected with MnSOD-PL prior to irradiation. Between 30 and 330 days, there were no differences in survival rates between experiment and control group mice, indicating that systemic MnSOD-PL treatment was not harmful to survival.
Intravenous administrat
'/>"/>
| Contact: Clare Collins CollCX@upmc.edu 412-647-3555 University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Intravenous gene therapy protects normal tissue of mice during whole-body radiation
2. Intravenous nanoparticle gene therapy shows activity in stage IV lung cancer
3. Adding Radiation Therapy To Chemotherapy Improves Survival In Patients With High-risk Breast Cancer
4. Columbia research lifts major hurdle to gene therapy for cancer
5. Combination therapy boosts effectiveness of telomere-directed cancer cell death
6. Gene therapy converts dead bone graft to new, living tissue
7. Novel Therapy Tested in Mice Could Chase Away Cat Allergies
8. Study identifies predictors of HIV drug resistance in patients beginning triple therapy
9. New imaging method gives early indication if brain cancer therapy is effective, U-M study shows
10. Muscle-targeted gene therapy reverses rare muscular dystrophy in mice
11. Gene Therapy For Parkinsons Disease Moves Forward In Animals
| Copyright © 2003-2009 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |