What Diseases Can be Treated with Gene Therapy

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In simple words, gene therapy refers to the procedure where specific genes are inserted or altered into the cells and biological tissues of a human body to correct the defected ones. It directly involves correcting the mutation and modification of normal genes, which can cause a viral infection. A number of success stories of this therapy have come to the forefront. This therapy has been and can be used for the treatment of many diseases. Read on to find out what diseases can be treated with gene therapy.

Genetic Disorders ? It is used for the cure for the following genetic disorders:

? Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (ADA-SCID) ? Also known as the bubble boy diseases, under this disease a child is born with a very weal immune system. Bone marrow transplantation is required. Through this therapy, ADA is inserted and then the genetically corrected cells are transplanted back into the patient?s body.

? Chronic Granulomatus Disorder (CGD) ? It is a diseases of the immune system wherein the patient is incapable of fighting against fungal and bacterial infections. The same process of ADA-SCID is followed to help the patients.

? Hemophilia ? In this disease, a patient is unable to induce blood clots and any kind of bleeding could be life threatening. The therapeutic gene is introduced in the patient?s body to cure it.

? Other genetic disorders ? Gene therapy is expected to cure other genetic disorders such as lysosomal storage disease, congenital blindness, and muscular dystrophy.

Acquired Diseases ? Gene therapy is also used for the treatment for following acquired diseases:

? Cancer ? Multiple strategies have been experimented with to treat different kinds of cancer. These strategies include oncolytic virotherapy, suicide gene therapy, therapeutic gene vaccines, and anti-angiogenesis. Medical professionals are trying their best to find out treatment for this traumatic disease. Novel technologies and therapeutics are being developed on-site to find out treatment for cancer.

? Neurodegenerative Diseases ? Novel gene therapy treatments have been developed for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
? Other acquired diseases ? Many gene therapeutic techniques are being tested to be capable of being applied to treat other acquired disorders. In near future, gene therapy could cure viral infections heart disease, and even diabetes.

Gene therapy is one of the upcoming medical technologies becoming popular. Different techniques are being developed and tested in the laboratories by highly qualified medical professionals to make the most of this therapy and treat diseases that are incurable!

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