[Gene transfer to treat rheumatoid arthritis]

Intraarticular transfer of exogenous genes could be useful for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The joints are not easy for drug accession while gene therapy can deliver therapeutic genes directly into the joints. Also, long-term expression of the transferred genes is expected. Anti-inflammatory genes, including interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene, have been used in experimental arthritis models and in a clinical trial for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, during gene therapy of other diseases, tragic accidents associated with viral vectors occurred. Since then, they have hampered clinical application of the gene therapy. Genes for treatment should be selected carefully and gene delivery methods should be optimized to resume clinical trials.