Author:

Keywords:

Animals, Arteriosclerosis, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, Cardiovascular Diseases, Coronary Disease, Endothelial Growth Factors, Gene Therapy, Gene Transfer Techniques, Genetic Vectors, Heart Failure, Congestive, Humans, Hypertension, Lymphokines, Mice, Neovascularization, Physiologic, Rabbits, Superoxide Dismutase, Thrombosis, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems, Cardiovascular System & Cardiology, atherosclerosis, gene therapy, heart failure, hypertension, infection/inflammation, thrombosis/embolism, NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE, ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR, COLLATERAL VESSEL DEVELOPMENT, ADENOVIRUS-MEDIATED TRANSFER, IN-VIVO, NEOINTIMAL FORMATION, CORONARY-ARTERY, FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA, FUTURE-PROSPECTS, RECEPTOR GENE, Genetic Therapy, Heart Failure, 1102 Cardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology, Cardiovascular System & Hematology, 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology

Abstract:

This update reviews the remarkable progression in several cardiovascular gene transfer domains. The first chemical gene therapy protocols to stimulate angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium are discussed and both the great expectations as well as remaining hurdle are highlighted. In experimental models of restenosis and heart failure gene therapy shows promising results. Important question regarding vector-related limitations and suboptimal in vivo delivery systems will require expeditious attention for gene therapy to become a more widely applicable option in cardiovascular diseases.