The Jeremiah Metzger Lecture: gene therapy for inherited disorders: from Christmas disease to Leber's amaurosis.

This paper will focus on recent developments in the field of gene therapy for inherited disorders. From a historical perspective, this Metzger lecture is a follow-on to one presented by Dr. William Kelley in 1987, entitled "Current Status of Human Gene Therapy" (Transactions Am Clin. Climatol. Assoc. 99:152-169) (1). In 1987, gene transfer studies in human subjects were yet to be undertaken; the first clinical studies, infusion of genetically modified autologous T cells into two young girls with ADA-SCID, would not take place until 1990 (2). Today's lecture will summarize progress since that time in one area, that of in vivo gene transfer for genetic disease. I will describe progress in two areas, gene therapy for the bleeding disorder hemophilia B, and for a subset of retinal degenerative disorders termed Leber's congenital amaurosis, due to mutations in the gene encoding retinal pigment epithelium-specific 65 kilodalton protein (RPE65). This lecture will demonstrate the interconnected nature of progress in these two areas, as careful delineation of the obstacles in hemophilia led to the realization that success could be achieved in Leber's.