Contemporary biological therapies for cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are top cause of mortality in the world. Current interventional therapy and pharmacotherapy may alleviate symptoms or slow disease progression but are unable to cure or treat them. Molecular and pathophysiological advances have paved the way for contemporary biological therapies to be tested and standardized for the treatment of these diseases. Stem cells therapy and gene therapy has shown promise in the treatment of CVDs. Various types of stem cells used in cardiac conditions like myocardial infarction with the aim of regenerating the damaged myocardium have had variable success rates in clinical and preclinical trials. Improvements in methods and routes of cell delivery have improved clinical outcomes. Gene therapy employs therapeutic genes to treat diseases. Advances in vectors have improved transfection efficiencies and transgene expression and enhanced role in Heart failure, ischemic disease as well as arrhythmias. Clinical trials have shown improved cardiac function upon treatment with genes which promote angiogenesis. The current review looks at the role of these biological therapies in cardiovascular diseases.