Progress toward liver‐based gene therapy

Abstract

The liver is involved in the synthesis of serum proteins, regulation of metabolism and maintenance of homeostasis and provides a variety of opportunities for gene therapy. The enriched vasculature and blood circulation, fenestrated endothelium, abundant receptors on the plasma membranes of the liver cells, and effective transcription and translation machineries in the hepatocytes are some unique features that have been explored for delivery, and functional analysis, of genetic sequences in the liver. Both viral and non-viral methods have been developed for effective gene delivery and liver-based gene therapy. This review describes the fundamentals of gene delivery, and the preclinical and clinical progress that has been made toward gene therapy using the liver as a target.