Gene therapy

Abstract

Primary human cells which are genetically engineered with DNA (RNA) encoding a marker or therapeutic which is expressed to be expressed in vivo. Such engineered cells may be used in gene therapy.

1. A process for providing a human with a therapeutic protein comprising:
 introducing human cells int a human, said human cells having been treated in vitro to insert therein a DNA segment encoding a therapeutic protein said human cells expressing in vivo in said human a therapeutically effective amount of said therapeutic protein.    
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1  wherein said cells are blood cells. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 1  wherein said cells are leukocytes. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 1  wherein said cells are lymphocytes. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 1  wherein said cells are T-lymphocytes. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 1  wherein said cells are TIL cells. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 1  wherein said cells are B-lymphocytes. 
     
     
       8. The process of any one of claims  1 - 7  wherein said DNA segment has been inserted into said cells in vitro by a viral vector. 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 8  wherein said viral vector is a retroviral vector. 
     
     
       10. The process of any one of claims  1 - 7  wherein the DNA segment encodes a cytokine. 
     
     
       11. The process of  claim 10  wherein the cytokine is TNF. 
     
     
       12. The process of  claim 10  wherein the cytokine is an interleukin. 
     
     
       13. The process of  claim 10  wherein said DNA segment has been inserted into said cells in vitro by a viral vector. 
     
     
       14. The process f  claim 13  wherein said viral vector is a retroviral vector. 
     
     
       15. A process for providing a human with a therapeutic protein comprising:
   introducing autologous human cells into a human, said autologous human cells having been treated in vitro to insert therein a DNA segment encoding a therapeutic protein, said autologous human cells expressing in vivo in said human a therapeutically effective amount of said therapeutic protein, wherein said therapeutic protein is an interleukin, wherein the autologous human cells are T lymphocytes.      
     
     
       16. The process of  claim 15 , wherein said cells are tumor infiltrating lymphocytes ( TIL ) .    
     
     
       17. The process of  claim 15  or  16 , wherein said DNA segment has been inserted into said cells in vitro by a viral vector.  
     
     
       18. The process of  claim 17 , wherein said viral vector is a retroviral vector.  
     
     
       19. The process of  claim 15 , wherein the interleukin is selected from the group consisting of IL-   1 , IL -   2 , IL -   3 , IL -   4 , IL -   5 , IL -   6 , IL -   7 , IL -   8 , IL -   9 , IL -   10 , IL -   11 , and IL -   12 .    
     
     
       20. The process of  claim 19 , wherein the interleukin is IL-   2 .