Lentiviral vectors: progress and potential.

Lentiviral vectors are continuing to generate great interest as gene vectors for possible gene therapy in vivo. Over the past year, considerable progress has been made in demonstrating gene delivery to a wide variety of tissues, taking advantage of their unique capability of integrating the desired gene into the chromosomes of the target cell. The basic science of lentivirus vector production has expanded and their relative ease of utility is reflected by the broadening range of laboratories reporting successful gene transfer using them. Important new findings on RNA processing within the cell have come from studies of vectors which have direct relevance to the molecular biology of HIV itself. Although none have been used in clinical trials in vivo, it can only be a matter of time before this occurs. This article reviews publications over the last 12 months, highlighting the major achievements in this field.