[Gene transfer in cruciate ligament surgery. Natural science-based principles and possible clinical applications]

Current challenges in anterior cruciate ligament surgery include graft remodeling and tendon-to-bone healing. The development over the past few decades of methods for delivering genes to musculoskeletal tissues has stimulated interest in its application for orthopedic problems, including anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Despite substantial progress, a number of technical issues need to be addressed before gene transfer might be considered as an approach to improve the structural and functional properties of anterior cruciate ligament grafts. The aim of this review is to illustrate the principles of somatic gene transfer and to apply them to the cells that constitute the anterior cruciate ligament. Special characteristics that dictate the experimental strategies will be outlined.