Novel Gene Therapy Works to Reverse Heart Failure

A new study that was published in Science Translational Medicine has said that a new gene therapy to treat heart failure is now in its final stage before it will start human clinical trails. This gene therapy will be used to treat heart failure in patients by shrinking their enlarged hearts and improving heart function. The patients that would find this treatment to be beneficial would be those individuals missing SUMO-1 gene. Dr. Hajjar is the main researcher for this type of treatment and has already has developed a gene therapy for the heart which targets gene SERCA2. The trials for this therapy are in its final stages and so far the results have been positive. The SERCA2 gene is delivered to the heart in a virus which is administered through the coronary arteries by heart catheterization. SERCA2 is responsible for producing an enzyme that helps pump calcium out of cells It has been found that only one dose is needed to restore proper enzyme levels.

 This is exciting news for the cardiovascular community because heart failure contributes to over 300,000 deaths a year. Gene therapy works by introducing new genetic material to abnormal cells. In this case SUMA-1 patients are missing this gene and by introducing it to the cell. SUMA-1 is responsible for regulating SERCA2's activity. It is believed that a combination of these two gene therapies would significantly improve blood flow, reduced heart volumes and produce stronger contractions. This is why researchers are going to explore the possibility of combining these two types of gene therapy. 

                                Coronary arteries of the failing heart delivering SUMO1

Link:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131113143131.htm

Related links:

http://www.mountsinai.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/novel-gene-therapy-works-to-reverse-heart-failure

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/825075.shtml#.Uo-Ds9KsiSo