Gene Therapy of Salivary Diseases

For many years, our laboratory has been developing gene transfer approaches for salivary gland disorders that currently lack effective therapy. The purpose of this chapter is to describe key methods used in this developmental process. Specifically, we focus on one clinical condition, irradiation-induced salivary hypofunction, and address the choice of transgene and vector to be used, the construction of recombinant viral vectors, how vector delivery is accomplished, and methods for assessing vector function in vitro and in an appropriate animal model.