Guo Bing, Xu Jia-jun

Teaching and Research Section of Human Anatomy, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, Shanghai   200433, China

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Current treatments for optic nerve disease include cell transplantation, gene therapy, medication and operation intervention. Moreover, gene therapy has aroused increasing attention and may become an alternative to some optic nerve diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize gene therapy for optic nerve injury from aspects of gene vector, neurotrophic factor, and tissue engineering.
METHODS: A computer-based online search of VIP, Pubmed and Elsevier databases was performed for related articles with the key words “optic nerve regeneration, gene therapy, tissue engineering” in Chinese and English. Articles related to gene therapy for optic nerve injury were included, and repetitive studies were excluded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 268 articles were collected, and 29 were included. Increasing gene therapies utilized non-virus and viral vector to transfect retinal ganglion cells, including many vector transfection methods, such as non-viral vector transfection, lentiviral vector transfection, adenovirus vector transfection, and adeno-associated virus vector transfection. Recombinant adenovirus vectors have been frequently used. These gene vectors can enhance retinal ganglion cells survival and promote axonal regeneration.