Gene therapeutical perspectives to modulate wound healing

A variety of reasons can afflict wound healing. Current research is focusse d on the acceleration of wound healing by stimulating molecular processes. Gene therapy may offer completely new ways to treat chronic wounds. Possible advantages of gene therapeutic modulation of wound healing might b e a long term efficiency, systemic or local regulation of gene expression a nd low side-effects. Current goals comprise the improvement of transfection efficiency and speci fity. In vivo applications are therefore focussed on optimized inducible or even cell-type specific promotors, as well as on improved local applicatio n techniques. Studies from our laboratory demonstrate the possibility to combine modern c ell culture techniques with different types of gene transfer. This enables the simultaneous grafting of manipulated cells to the wound with the contin uous delivery of specific proteins of interest. Experimentally, this lead t o accelerated closure of partial and full thickness animal wounds. Clinical ly, gene therapy for the treatment of chronic wounds seems to be a realisti c goal within the next years and might be applicable for a variety of novel indications.