Novel molecular therapeutic approach to cardiovascular disease based on hepatocyte growth factor

Gene therapy techniques are being developed as potential treatments for cardiovascular diseases. During the past decade, many gene transfer methods including viral transfer techniques have been developed, and some are being applied clinically in human gene therapy studies. Recently, we have developed a novel gene transfer method mediated by Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan (HVJ) liposome, with which we have already reported several cases of successful gene transfer in vivo. Since the virus is inactivated by ultraviolet light, there is little potential for biological hazard with this method as compared to other viral gene transfer approaches. We also developed a novel strategy of gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases utilizing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) which is an endothelial cell specific growth factor and an angiogenic growth factor. Based on these facts, we hypothesized that HGF may prevent restenosis after angioplasty through re endothelialization and myocardial infarction through induction of angiogenesis. The present results provide evidence of the efficacy of supplemental therapy with HGF by gene transfer in cardiovascular diseases. These data suggest the efficacy of novel molecular therapeutic approaches as gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases such as restenosis and myocardial infarction.