Viral vectors for gene delivery and gene therapy within the endocrine system

The transfer of genetic material into endocrine cells and tissues, both in vitro and in vivo, has been identified as critical for the study of endocri ne mechanisms and the future treatment of endocrine disorders. Classical me thods of gene transfer, such as transfection, are inefficient and limited m ainly to delivery into actively proliferating cells in vitro. The developme nt of viral vector gene delivery systems is beginning to circumvent these i nitial setbacks. Several kinds of viruses, including retrovirus, adenovirus , adeno-associated virus, and herpes simplex virus, have been manipulated f or use in gene transfer and gene therapy applications. As different viral v ector systems have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, they each have applications for which they are best suited. This review will discuss viral vector systems that have been used for gene transfer into the endocr ine system, and recent developments in viral vector technology that may imp rove their use for endocrine applications - chimeric vectors, viral vector targeting and transcriptional regulation of transgene expression.