Posted on 08/11/2014 11:13:46 PM PDT by Innovative
The technique, which involves a simple injection, could aid the recovery of hundreds of thousands of heart failure patients - and could even consign heart transplants to history.
Researchers hope to increase levels of SERCA2a, a protein in heart muscle cells that plays an important role in heart muscle contraction
The technique, which involves a simple injection, could aid the recovery of hundreds of thousands of heart failure patients. Heart transplants could even be consigned to history thanks to a trial by Imperial College, London, which aims to show for the first time that gene therapy could repair failing organs.
The trial involves researchers introducing a gene, created in a laboratory, into heart failure patients to boost the production of a key protein, which they believe will allow the muscle to recover.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
I want one.
The new therapy is designed to increase levels of SERCA2a, a protein in heart muscle cells that plays an important role in heart muscle contraction.
In the new treatment, genes are pumped into the heart muscle cells to increase the level of SERCA2a using a harmless engineered virus that will spread in the organ and help repair the damaged muscle so it can pump on its own.
Previous studies have shown that the technique works in animals and on hearts in a laboratory. Now human trials are to begin.
Nice! DNA programming is the wave of the future (worked pretty well for someone in the long-distant past, too).
The only issue I have is the delivery system.
I cringe when I hear “harmless engineered virus”...
For later.
There’s also work going on to repair defects in the PLN gene, which is the gene that codes for this specific protein. This study jumps the process a step and just goes to the protein itself. Pretty cool!
It would be wonderful if they had something along this line for failing pancreases. Especially since diabetes contributes to multiple organ failures in addition to heart disease.
It is way too early to get excited about this, since it has not even started human trials yet.
The technique is based on a modified virus. I do not know how the virus was modified, but if it is immunogenic and acts like a vaccine, this therapy would be good for one round of treatments, and that’s it. After that, the patient would be immune to the treatment, and any future heart disease would have to be treated by current means.
FDA cares more about it’s power than saving lives.
Ever notice that when governments take over health care, surgeries are suddenly unnecessary and a simple shot or pill can cure you? It’s magic.
"As ancient astronaut theorists believe..."
Taking into account all the trials and tests for side effects, etc., even if this works on the test patients it will be a good 20 years at least before it will be available to the general population.
“Of the 24 patients enrolled in the study, 16 will be treated with the gene therapy and eight will be treated with a placebo.”
That has to suck to be one of the ones who won’t get treatment.
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