Medicina Molecular e Genética

Gene Therapy of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Malik A

Parkinson’s is second most common neurological disorder in the world having both sporadic and familial cases. Present Parkinson’s disease genetics taxonomy specifies 18 chromosomal regions that are also called chromosomal locus which are termed PARK. Gene therapy i.e., Use of genes as medicine, is effective and newly discovered treatment of many Central nervous system disorders including Parkinson’s disease. Direct injection was also performed but it does not give suitable results. So, scientist feel need of using different vectors for efficient delivery of genes in Central nervous system. Hence gene therapy of Parkinson’s disease involves use of both viral and non-viral vectors but viral vectors shows efficient results. Frequently used vectors for therapy of Parkinson’s disease are Lentivirus and adeno associated virus. Using these vectors many successful experiments are performed on different animals. Parkin, Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and alpha synuclein are some of the successful products for therapy of Parkinson’s disease.