Gene therapy of pain

Possible practical applications of gene therapy for pain are at the beginning. Very intensive research on animal models has been effectuated and some partial results of clinical applications in men already exist. The article describes different possibilities of these applications, namely the application of viral vectors and antisense nucleotides as well as the first experimental results of possible gene therapy. BDNF (brain derived nervous factor), herpes simplex virus, cytokine-interleukin 10, viral mediated transfer of the decarboxylase of the glumatic acid and down--regulated genes are recently used. Experimation of beta endorphin is also possible. In the article describes also possible molecular and gene therapy of pain and the molecular neurosurgical approach to the treatment of pain, which is called the molecular neurosurgery. From all these results it is possible to conclude, that gene therapy will be definitely used for the treatment of pain and that only the intensive research in this field may bring some important results.