Gene transfer to the skin

Abstract

The skin holds a number of advantages useful in gene therapy and is a highly interesting organ for gene transfection using electroporation. It is accessible and can be easily evaluated, not only clinically but also histologically. Furthermore, it has been shown that the skin is a very active metabolic organ and is able to produce proteins, which can act in the local environment as well as at distant target sites. Most importantly is that the skin is a very competent organ in terms of immunological activity. It is part of the body's immune surveillance and contains antigen presenting cells, which make it suitable for transfection of DNAvaccines with both prophylactic and therapeutic purpose. Work is ongoing, primarily in the field of improving immunological responses after gene transfection to skin with DNA vaccines targeting infectious and malignant diseases, and focus is on bringing this treatment modality into the clinical setting. However, regarding plasmid doses, type of electrode, electrical pulse parameters, and spatial and temporal settings, there exists no gold standard, and the optimal transfection can probably be achieved in many ways. This chapter aims at giving a brief introduction to gene electrotransfer to skin and hopefully inspires new and interesting research.