Therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disorders.

The feasibility of gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases related to atherosclerosis is a topic that needs to be addressed. Most recent papers have dealt with technical aspects and feasibility and most of the genes transferred were reporter genes like those for beta-galactosidase or luciferase. This may mean that the ideal vector, one that is not pathogenic or immunotolerant but is still efficient, is still not available. The results of these studies are ambiguous and it has been doubted whether the genes targeted really affect the disease. Further efforts are therefore needed to elucidate the underlying pathophysiology.