Inventors:
David C. Johns - Elkridge MD
Eduardo Marban - Lutherville MD
Assignee:
The Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore MD
International Classification:
C12N 1585, C12N 1563, C12N 500, C07H 2104
Abstract:
Graded, reversible suppression of cellular excitability represents a logical goal of therapy for epilepsy and intractable pain, as well as for cardiac arrhythmias. To achieve such suppression, "electrical silencing" genes are transferred into cells with sensitive control of transgene expression. For example, an ecdysone-inducible promoter drives the expression of inwardly rectifying potassium channels in polycistronic adenoviral vectors. While normal electrical activity is not affected, after the induction of gene expression excitability is suppressed.