[Gene therapy of vascular diseases]

Gene therapy of vascular diseases represents a new perspective field in the modern biomedical science. It is based on the employment of genetic constructions for medical treatment. The paper reviews major directions in gene therapy of vascular diseases: inhibition of proliferative processes in the vascular wall; administration into the elements of vascular wall of genes responsible for nitric oxide synthesis; normalisation of blood pressure regulatory system; synthesis of thromboembolic factors and anticoagulants; gene therapy of atherosclerosis; revascularisation of ischaemic myocardium and inhibition of tumor vascularisation.