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Stereotaxic Injection of a Viral Vector for Conditional Gene Manipulation in the Mouse Spinal Cord
Published on: March 18, 2013
HSV gene transfer in the treatment of chronic pain
1University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. djfink@umich.edu
Abstract:
It has proven difficult to use systemic administration of small molecules to selectively modulate nociception. Over the past decade, we and others have developed non-replicating herpes simplex virus (HSV)-based vectors to treat chronic pain. Subcutaneous inoculation of an HSV vector effectively transduces sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglion; release of transgene-coded inhibitory neurotransmitters or anti-inflammatory peptides reduces pain-related behaviors in rodent models of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. A phase 1 trial of this therapy in patients is set to begin soon.
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