Delivery of DNA to Lung Airway Epithelium

Delivering exogenous DNA or genes directly to the lung airways offers a unique and appealing opportunity for specifically targeting gene expression to airway and alveolar epithelium. A large body of literature and experience supports the feasibility of this approach. However, airway-directed gene delivery is not as simple as was originally anticipated. The lung has evolved both physical and immunologic barriers that can hinder effective transduction of epithelial cells (1 –3 ). Much current work in lung gene therapy is directed toward overcoming the inflammatory and immune responses provoked by gene-transfer vectors while simultaneously maximizing vector delivery and subsequent gene expression.