Potential future therapies for heart failure: gene transfer of beta-adrenergic signaling components

Abstract

Congestive heart failure (CHF), despite the improved prevention and treatment modalities adopted for cardiovascular disease over the past two decades, remains a significant therapeutic challenge. Efficacious therapies are few, and death rates from CHF continue to rise. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of CHF have given rise to experimental animal models demonstrating related genetic phenotypes, which further elucidate cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the failing heart. Studies involving transgenic mice have elucidated novel potential gene therapy interventions aimed at the genetic modification of beta-adrenergic signaling in the heart. This review will briefly discuss beta-adrenergic signaling in CHF, while focusing on potential gene therapy strategies to improve the performance of the failing heart.