Gene therapy helps damaged heart cells

Gene therapy to block an enzyme called beta-ARK1 helps damaged heart cells work better, new research shows. Blocking this enzyme could represent a useful treatment for heart failure. Dr. Walter J. Koch, from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, and colleagues obtained damaged heart cells from 10 patients undergoing heart transplantation. Cells from each patient were then treated with gene therapy to block beta-ARK1 or were left untreated. Compared with untreated cells, those that received gene therapy showed a dramatic improvement in their ability to contract—an important feature given the heart’s role in pumping blood. These findings show that blocking beta-ARK1 improves the function of failing human heart cells, Koch’s team concludes. Because the outlook for patients with serious heart failure remains grim, they hope that “further research will advance gene therapy as a viable option” for this condition. —Reuters

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