Gene therapies for pulmonary hypertension-from experimental trials to bedside aspects.
Accompanying the continuously deepening understanding of the mechanism of pulmonary hypertension that many genes are found to be aetiologically involved in its development, burgeoning literature manifest that gene therapies aimed at correcting these genetic defects have the ability to restore deficient pulmonary gene expression, over-express biologically active gene products, reverse established disease and regenerate pulmonary vasculature, and may constitute a promising therapeutic strategy for pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, to provide new information to basic scientists and clinical investigators, we present a review that attempts a clear description of the therapeutic potential of gene therapy in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
Meng
Liu-Kun
LK
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China. menglk@126.com
Liu
Cheng-Gui
CG
D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*