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(Circulation. 2008;117:2142-2150.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.

Basic Science for Clinicians

Antioxidant Gene Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease

Current Status and Future Perspectives

Anna-Liisa Levonen, MD, PhD; Elisa Vähäkangas, MD; Jonna K. Koponen, MSc; Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, MD, PhD, FESC

From the Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland (A.-L.L., E.V., J.K., S.Y.-H.); and the Department of Medicine (S.Y.-H.) and the Gene Therapy Unit (S.Y.-H.), Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.

Correspondence to Anna-Liisa Levonen, MD, PhD, Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627 (street address: Neulaniementie 2), FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland. E-mail Anna-Liisa.Levonen{at}uku.fi

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species has been implicated to play an important role in a number of cardiovascular pathologies, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, ischemia/reperfusion injury, and restenosis after angioplasty or venous bypass grafting. The formation of reactive oxygen species is balanced out by antioxidant defenses, and augmenting this defense by antioxidant therapies could therefore provide a potential means to treat conditions in which the formation of reactive oxygen species exceeds the capability of natural protective mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the studies in which antioxidant gene therapy has been used successfully to treat cardiovascular diseases. We also discuss the current limitations of antioxidant gene therapy and envision future therapeutic targets and methodological approaches for an improved outcome.

Key Words: antioxidants • cardiovascular diseases • gene therapy