Somatic gene therapy cell targetting

Gene tlierapy may be segmented into somatic gene therapy and germline therapy. Somatic gene therapy promises to be more successful when targeting selected cell populations rather than total changes. 

In somatic cell gene therapy, a DNA sequence is inserted into a somatic cell to correct a mutation. Cells may be removed from the patient for manipulation and subsequent reinsertion (ex vivo therapy), or they may be manipulated without removal fi om the patient (in vivo therapy). Ideally, cells with a very long life span (e.g., bone marrow stem cells) are treated, but other cells (e.g., lymphocytes) are sometimes more practical targets. 

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