Gene therapy for pulmonary diseases

The past decade has brought significant advances in the field of gene therapy. The lung has been a major target of gene therapy for genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis and α 1 -antitrypsin deficiency, and for other diseases, including lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, asthma, pulmonary infection, and inflammatory lung diseases. Initial optimism gave way to the realization that gene therapy to the lung was unlikely straightforward, but barriers posed by the studies in pulmonary gene therapy have led to the development of modifications of both vector and host in an attempt to increase the efficiency of transfer. This article summarizes the latest developments in viral and nonviral gene delivery system to the lung. In addition, current status of gene therapy for malignant and inflammatory diseases of the lung is discussed mainly focusing on immunotherapeutic approaches.