The aim of this review is to summarize the state of art of retroviral vecto
rs for gene therapy of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Actual knowledge
on this matter indicates that retroviral vectors are able to transduce musc
le satellite cells ill vivo and that these cells can participate in muscle
repair processes, even if the efficiency of transduction of satellite cells
remains the limiting factor. Such a process is reminiscent of the normaliz
ation process of DMD carriers and offers hope for the development of long-t
erm gene therapy of this disease.