title: The therapeutic potential of engineered human neovessels for cell-based gene therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several works have shown the feasibility of engineering functional blood vessels in vivo using human endothelial cells and mural cells. In this context, the genetic modification of endothelial cells would ensure the secretion of a therapeutic protein into the systemic circulation for a prolonged period of time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We discuss the different strategies aimed at the formation of long-lasting neovessels in vivo, using human endothelial and mural cells. The main focus is the potential of these constructs in gene therapy strategies for the in vivo production of therapeutic proteins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reader will have an outline of the different types of cells that have been used for microvessel engineering in vivo, as well as scaffolds employed to seed these cells. We provide a critical review of their advantages and drawbacks, along with examples of their potential in cell-based gene therapy strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a real potential for neovessels derived from human endothelial and mural cells to be incorporated in clinical interventions, either as a cell-based gene therapy to produce a therapeutic protein or as a component of engineered tissue constructs in regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology Unit, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain. lsanz.hpth@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Vallina
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D023822:Tissue Engineering