Gene therapy in immune-mediated diseases of the eye

Abstract

Therapy of ocular immune-mediated diseases has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Although a variety of non-specific immunosuppressive agents are introduced, with advances in cell biology a number of more specific therapeutic options will become available. Gene therapy has the potential to interfere with the immune response at different steps modulating the microenvironment of the eye. In this chapter we focus attention on the most promising candidate genes for gene therapy in ocular immune diseases. Furthermore, we outline the current techniques for delivering genes of interest with their potential merits and drawbacks in the field of ophthalmology. Many of these approaches are still in early phases of study for the treatment of clinical relevant immune-mediated diseases.