Gene therapy for the treatment of heart failure--calcium signaling.
The knowledge of molecular mechanisms indicated in cardiac dysfunction has increased dramatically over the last decade and yields considerable potential for new treatment options in heart failure. Alterations in intracellular calcium signaling play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of heart failure, and in recent years, somatic gene transfer has been identified as an important tool to help understand the relative contribution of specific calcium-handling proteins in heart failure. This article reviews recent advances in gene delivery techniques aimed at global myocardial transfection and discusses molecular therapeutic targets identified within intracellular calcium signaling pathways in heart failure.
Bernecker
Oliver Y
OY
Program in Cardiovascular Gene Therapy, Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
del Monte
Federica
F
Hajjar
Roger J
RJ
D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000502:physiology; D000099211:Phospholamban
D015220:Calcium Channels; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; D000099211:Phospholamban