Gene therapy for XXXX : a case for cautious optimism.

@entity1 @entity4065 @entity1364 @entity13327 @entity101 @entity7 @entity753 @entity1373 @entity517 @entity120 @entity4770 @entity876 @entity12 @entity74 @entity741 @entity731 @entity65 @entity995
There is currently intense interest in the development of gene therapy for @entity65 . The stimulation of therapeutic angiogenesis for @entity741 has been one of the areas of greatest promise. Encouraging results have been obtained with the angiogenic cytokines @entity7 ( @entity7 ) and basic fibroblast growth factor in animal models, leading to clinical trials in @entity741 . @entity7 also has therapeutic potential in a second area of cardiovascular gene therapy, the enhancement of arterioprotective endothelial functions to prevent postangioplasty restenosis and bypass graft @entity4065 . The endothelial cell growth and survival functions of @entity7 promote endothelial regeneration, whereas @entity7 -induced endothelial production of NO and @entity4770 inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Inhibition of neointimal @entity1373 may also be achieved by gene transfer of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), PGI synthase, or cell cycle regulators ( @entity995 , @entity1364 or @entity1364 -dependent kinase inhibitors, @entity876 , growth arrest homeobox gene, @entity12 ) or antisense oligonucleotides to @entity13327 , @entity517 , proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappaB and E2F. An improved understanding of etiologically complex pathologies involving the interplay of genes and the environment, such as @entity731 and systemic @entity101 , has led to the identification of new targets for gene therapy, with the potential to alleviate inherited @entity74 such as @entity753 . The use of vasodilator gene overexpression and antisense knockdown of vasoconstrictors to reduce blood pressure in animal models of @entity120 offers the prospect of gene therapy for @entity1 @entity101 disease. The renin-angiotensin system has been the target of choice for antihypertensive strategies because of its wide distribution and additional effects on fibrinolytic and oxidative stress pathways. Gene therapy in @entity65 has an exciting future but remains at an early stage. Further developments in gene transfer vector technology and the identification of additional target genes will be required before its full therapeutic potential can be realized.
