Age-related neuronal vulnerability to brain ischemia: A potential target of gene therapy.

Brain infarction is one of the most important age-associated diseases. We have developed aged animal models for brain ischemia, and found the age-related neuronal vulnerability to brain ischemia. Investigation of that mechanism would lead to the effective treatment of brain infarction in the elder population. Recent advancement of gene transfer technique has provided strong tools for the neuronal and vascular biology. We described our recent approaches of gene transfer to blood vessels, including cerebral circulation, using adenoviral vectors. Cerebral blood vessels, atherosclerotic endothelium, and ischemic brain tissue are good targets of gene transfer. Development of these techniques would offer new therapeutic strategies for the age-related neuronal vulnerability and other age-associated diseases.