Gene therapy in heart disease

Application of gene therapy to the field of cardiovascular disorders has be en the subject of intensive work over the recent period. Gene therapy for c ardiovascular disorders is now fast developing with most therapies being de voted to the consequences (ischemia) rather than the causes of atherosclero tic diseases. Recent human clinical trials have shown that injection of nak ed DNA encoding vascular endothelial growth factor promotes collateral vess el development in patients with critical limb ischemia or chronic myocardia l ischemia. Promising studies in animals have also fueled enthusiasm for tr eatment of human restenosis by gene therapy, but clinical applications are warranted. Application of gene transfer to other cardiovascular diseases wi ll require the coordinated development of a variety of new technologies, as well as a better definition of cellular and gene targets. (C) 2001 Edition s scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.