Prospects for gene transfer for clinical heart failure

Congestive heart failure is an inexorable disease associated with unacceptably high morbidity and mortality. Preclinical results indicate that gene transfer using various proteins is a safe and effective approach for increasing function of the failing heart. In the current review, we provide a summary of cardiac gene transfer in general and summarize findings using adenylyl cyclase 6 as therapeutic gene in the failing heart. We also discuss the potential usefulness of a new treatment for congestive heart failure, paracrine-based gene transfer. Gene Therapy (2012) 19, 606-612; doi:10.1038/gt.2012.36; published online 26 April 2012