Somatic Gene Therapy is a medical procedure that involves introducing genetic material into specific cells of a patient's body to treat genetic disorders. The spelling of this term is represented by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription as /səˈmætɪk dʒin ˈθɛrəpi/. The word "somatic" is pronounced as "suh-mat-ik" and refers to a non-reproductive cell of an organism, while "gene therapy" is pronounced as "jeen ther-uh-pee" and involves altering or replacing genes to treat medical conditions.
Somatic gene therapy refers to a therapeutic approach aimed at treating genetic diseases by introducing functional genes into the cells of an affected individual's body. It involves modifying the genetic material of non-reproductive, or somatic, cells to correct or replace the faulty genes responsible for causing the disease. The purpose of somatic gene therapy is to alleviate symptoms, slow down disease progression, or potentially cure genetic disorders that have a clear cellular or tissue target.
The procedure typically involves extracting cells from the patient's body and introducing therapeutic genes into these cells in the laboratory. The modified cells are then reintroduced into the patient's body, where they can replace or supplement the defective genes. Various delivery methods can be employed, such as viral vectors or non-viral methods, to ensure efficient gene transfer into the target cells.
Unlike germline gene therapy, which alters the genetic information inherited by future generations, somatic gene therapy only affects the individual receiving the treatment. It is considered a safer approach, as it does not involve modifying the DNA in reproductive cells.
Somatic gene therapy has the potential to address a wide range of genetic disorders, including inherited conditions like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and sickle cell disease. Ongoing research and advancements in gene editing technologies continue to expand the possibilities for this therapeutic approach, offering hope for improved treatment options for individuals affected by genetic diseases.