Potential targets of gene therapy in the treatment of heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is one of the most prevalent diseases; it affects millions of people every year. In addition to being one of the major causes of mortality, it generates a financial burden on healthcare systems. Despite progress in developing new pharmaceuticals intended to treat HF, even the newest therapies are not satisfactory. Ischemic heart disease often requires operational treatment which decreases the patient's quality of life. The emergence of gene therapy as a viable treatment option for monogenic disorders has resulted in the approach becoming a topic of study in cardiology. Areas covered: The identification of molecular targets could enable a new form of treatment for HF. This review discusses the current advances related to the implementation of gene therapy for those genes connected to the regulation of calcium concentrations. Several trials have recently investigated the efficacy of gene therapy in HF treatment. Researchers have identified SERCA2a, S100A1 and IPP-1 as potential therapeutic targets. Another therapeutic approach could relate to the gene expression regulatory process called SUMOylation.

COMMENTARY: Researchers still face a long road ahead; however, overcoming several significant problems will likely lead to a greatly improved prognosis in many patients.