Modification of cardiovascular ion channels by gene therapy

Abstract

Delivery of genes to the heart and vasculature for therapeutic purposes is an exciting strategy that is approaching clinical reality. Abnormalities of expression or function of ion channels is central to many cardiovascular diseases and gene delivery to modify ion channels is an appealing alternative to traditional therapy with small-molecule drugs. Potential therapeutic targets include hypertrophy and heart failure, atrioventricular node modification in atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and hypertension. Numerous approaches for gene delivery are under development, including use of tissue-specific promoters in viral vectors. For other applications, such as development of biological pacemakers, cells can be transduced with pacemaker genes in vitro, and then the cells implanted within the heart. There are short-term hurdles to therapeutic gene delivery to modify cardiovascular ion channels, but in the intermediate and longer term, the outlook is promising.

Keywords::

• cardiovascular
• gene delivery
• gene therapy
• heart failure
• hypertension
• ion channel
• pacemaker

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the editorial assistance provided by Gib Ann Berryhill.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported, in part, by the American Heart Association Grant in Aid 0755762Z. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.