Impact of gene therapy on dentistry

• Bone repair: An area of importance is bone repair subsequent to bony lesions. Ex vivo methods to transfer genes encoding bone morphogenetic proteins or BMPs -BMP-2 gene expressing stem cells increased formation of new blood vessels and new bone. Vivo gene transfer is carried out by using recombinant adenovirus Ad-BMP. The vector is administered directly to the osseous defect and expression of BMP-2 leads to repair of osseous defects. In the future, it is likely that various genes soon will be able to regenerate bone and cell repair for periodontal and oral surgical applications.
  
  
• Gene transfer to salivary glands: Salivary glands are excellent target sites of gene transfer. The original goal of developing gene transfer was to provide novel and effective therapies for patients who suffer from irreversible salivary gland dysfunction resulting from either irradiation of head and neck cancers or autoimmune damage occurring with Sjogren's syndrome. The idea in repair of damaged salivary gland was to insert a gene encoding water channel protein aquaporin - 1 or AQP-1 in converting non secretory cells to secretory cells. The second aspect is gene therapeutics. The idea here is to deliver gene product locally to treat disorders of mouth and upper G.I. The most successful one was in treating resistant candidial infection. The treatment lies with increase histatins 3 levels (a polypeptide secreted by salivary gland) that is a natural anticandidal polypeptide. Suitable gene transfer is carried out so that there is enhanced Histatins - 3 production and causing dentition of candida organism.
  
  Similarly suitable gene therapy can make salivary gland act like an endocrine gland. Human growth hormone can be made available in the serum by secretion from acini of salivary gland directly to blood.
  
  Using immunomodulation techniques can treat Sjogren's syndrome being autoimmune disease. Using gene transfer such as immunomodulation should be targeted, local delivery with selective tissue expression.