Gene therapy represents a promising new modality for the treatment of inherited and acquired liver diseases. Genetic material is transferred into the patient's liver and serves as a template for the cells to produce a known gene product. Developments in gene delivery technology and progress in understanding of the molecular mechanisms of many liver diseases have led to novel strategies for gene therapy of liver diseases.

Somatic gene therapy is currently accepted as the most practical approach to gene therapy. Somatic cells are all the cells that make up the organs and tissues of an individual except the reproductive cells in the gonads. In contrast, germ line gene therapy is the insertion of a gene into the fertilized egg or spermatogonia so that every cell acquires the new gene and can transmit it to future generations. Although germ line transfer has proved successful in animal models,<sup>7 Brinster R., Avarbock M. Germline transmission of donor haplotype following spermatogonial transplantation Proc Natl Acad Sci 1994 ;  91 : 11303  [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références</sup> significant practical and ethical obstacles limit its application in humans. This article outlines advances in gene delivery technology and illustrates potential applications of somatic gene therapy.