Advancing towards gene therapy

1995/08/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika
• Medikuntza

Although they do not dare to say high, at the Los Angeles Hospital for the first time they have successfully used gene therapy. It is still in the phase of experimentation, but US medical journals have already praised the viability of the new therapy. If this is confirmed, the researchers have announced that it will serve to overcome the defenselessness shown by some newborns.

The gene responsible for SCID or general immunodeficiency leaves newborns without ADA enzymes, so they cannot develop defense systems. Gene therapy used in Los Angeles helps to create this enzyme and remove the gene from immunodeficiency. Samples were removed from the attacked cell from the umbilical cord blood and the copy of the ADA gene was introduced. According to the researchers, the gene will enter immediately to work and, although it will take a few months to overcome immunodeficiency. If so, the success of gene therapies would be demonstrated for the first time.