Genetic modification of targeted regions of the cardiac conduction system

Abstract

Disclosed are compositions, methods and systems for preventing or treating cardiac dysfunction, particularly cardiac pacing dysfunction by genetic modification of cells of targeted regions of the cardiac conduction system. In particular, a bio-pacemaker composition is delivered to cardiac cells to increase the intrinsic pacemaking rate of the cells, wherein the bio-pacemaker composition increases expression of a channel or subunit thereof that produces funny current and a T-type Ca²⁺ channel or subunit thereof, and expresses one or more molecules that suppresses the expression of the wild type potassium channel.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 424,080-filed Apr. 25, 2003, by Vinod Sharma and entitled “GENETIC MODIFICATION OF TARGETED REGIONS OF THE CARDIAC CONDUCTION SYSTEM.”FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to compositions, apparatus, and methods for providing curative therapy for cardiac dysfunction, and more particularly to biological systems and methods relating to implementing curative therapeutic agents and systems for arrhythmias and cardiac pacing dysfunction. BACKGROUND [0003] In a normal, healthy heart, cardiac contraction is initiated by the spontaneous excitation of the sinoatrial (“SA”) node, located in the right atrium. The electrical impulse generated by the SA node travels to the atrioventricular (“AV”) node where it is transmitted to the bundle of His and Purkinje network, which branches in many directions to facilitate simultaneous contraction of the l...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention provides a biological pacemaker (“bio-pacemaker”) that is capable of responding to physiological signals as well as facilitating and restoring synchronous contractions of the ventricles to thus mimic the function of a healthy heart. The bio-pacemaker is generated through the genetic modification of myocardial cells in a targeted region of the cardiac conduction system, through use of a bio-pacemaker composition.

Problems solved by technology

In certain disease states, the heart's ability to pace properly is compromised.

While improving the lives of many patients, implantable pacemakers have a limited lifetime and hence, may expose a patient to multiple surgeries to replace the implantable pacemaker.

Moreover, implantable pacemakers may not be capable of directly responding to the body's endogenous signaling that interacts with the SA node to increase or decrease its pacing rate.

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