Modified hTERT treatment ameliorates pressure overload-induced heart failure - PubMed
2 days ago
- #Heart Failure
- #Gene Therapy
- #Telomerase
- Heart failure (HF) is an incurable disorder linked to shortened telomeres and cardiomyocyte dysfunction.
- A modified human telomerase (hTERT) gene therapy (AAV9-modhTERTY707F, D868A) was developed to target HF.
- The therapy reversed cardiac function decline and prevented fibrosis in mouse models of HF.
- At the cellular level, modhTERT improved contractile function and calcium handling in cardiomyocytes.
- modhTERT blocked telomeric DNA damage response (DDR) and reduced p53 phosphorylation.
- The therapy reduced chronic inflammation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.
- modhTERT restored mitochondrial structure, increased mtDNA copy number, and boosted ATP production.
- The study suggests telomere re-protection as a potential gene therapy for HF.
- Funding was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other sources.