Somatic gene therapy differs from germline gene therapy because somatic therapy:
Somatic gene therapy restricts genetic modification to differentiated somatic lineages such as hematopoietic stem cells, hepatocytes, myofibers, retinal pigment epithelium, or T lymphocytes, preserving integrity of primordial germ cells in gonadal ridges. Recombinant lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with VSV-G bind LDL receptor, entering CD34+ stem cells after cytokine stimulation with SCF, TPO, FLT3L that drives cell cycling required for reverse transcription and integration. Integrated provirus flanked by LTRs replicates synchronously with host chromosomes during mitosis, ensuring inheritance
Ref: CCMO Netherlands Somatic vs Germline Therapy; MedlinePlus Somatic Gene Editing; Watson Mol Biol Gene Chap 12.
