[New antithrombotic therapy approaches in coronary heart disease--prospects for gene therapy]

Z Kardiol. 2000 Dec;89(12):1072-83. doi: 10.1007/s003920070134.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Despite considerable progress, pharmacological therapies have not provided a complete solution for common cardiovascular problems, including recurrent thrombosis, restenosis, and vein graft deterioration. Optimal drug dosage, reproducing plasma concentrations achieved in animal studies establishing proof-of-principle, would often be too toxic to administer. Local gene therapy aims at overexpressing proteins that regulate the cell cycle of vascular smooth muscle cells, inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell migration, endow the endothelium with enhanced vasoprotective properties. Alternatively, some approaches tend to suppress gene expression of proteins believed to promote vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. In sharp contrast to drug treatments, local gene therapy limits expression of the beneficial agent to the injured vascular site, where it can extend the presence of this agent to weeks and, with some gene vectors, to many months. This review summarizes and discusses antithrombotic gene therapy approaches for the prevention of restenosis and late thrombosis after catheter-based revascularizations.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary
  • Animals
  • Coronary Disease / genetics
  • Coronary Disease / therapy*
  • Coronary Thrombosis / genetics
  • Coronary Thrombosis / therapy*
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Humans
  • Recurrence