Gene and cytokine therapy for heart failure: molecular mechanisms in the improvement of cardiac function

Despite significant advances in pharmacological and clinical treatment, heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many new therapeutic strategies, including cell transplantation, gene delivery, and cytokines or other small molecules, have been explored to treat HF. Recent advancement of our understanding of the molecules that regulate cardiac function uncover many of the therapeutic key molecules to treat HF. Furthermore, a theory of paracrine mechanism, which underlies the beneficial effects of cell therapy, leads us to search novel target molecules for genetic or pharmacological strategy. Gene therapy means delivery of genetic materials into cells to achieve therapeutic effects. Recently, gene transfer technology in the cardiovascular system has been improved and several therapeutic target genes have been started to examine in clinical research, and some of the promising results have been emerged. Among the various bioactive reagents, cytokines such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin have been well examined, and a number of clinical trials for acute myocardial infarction and chronic HF have been conducted. Although further research is needed in both preclinical and clinical areas in terms of molecular mechanisms, safety, and efficiency, both gene and cytokine therapy have a great possibility to open the new era of the treatment of HF.