Gene Therapy of the Corneal Epithelium

摘要

Despite much progress, conventional therapies have been unable to adequately treat many common disorders involving the corneal epithelium. Processes such as corneal neovascularization, conjuctivalization of the ocular surface, recurrent erosions, dry eye syndrome, and neuro-trophic keratopathy are quite frequently found to be resistant to our current treatment modalities. Our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms responsible for these disorders has flourished, but few if any of our treatments reflect our newly acquired knowledge. Most of our treatment of epithelial disease requires the repeat usage of topical drugs that are not specific for the pathophysiology of the disease to be treated, but instead effect a host of biologic processes, one of which may be involved in the pathophysiology. For many of the aforementioned disease processes, tailored molecular therapy in the form of gene therapy may prove to be more effective and harbor fewer side effects (Table 1)