CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, GENETIC ALTERATIONS, AND GENE THERAPY BY: Mary Harrell, Farah Fevrier, Kareen Carty, Daniel Omotola, and Trey Palmer

PROBLEM With human gene mapping complete, does prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the nation’s leading killer, lie within human genes? With human gene mapping complete, does prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the nation’s leading killer, lie within human genes?

PROBLEM Risk Factors For CVD Risk Factors For CVD –Tobacco Use –Hypertension –High Levels of Cholesterol –Physical inactivity –Diabetes –High Triglyceride Levels –Obesity –Psychological & Social Factors –Heredity –Aging –Male –Ethnicity –Syndrome X

PROBLEM Risk Factors For CVD Risk Factors For CVD –Tobacco Use –Heredity –High Levels of Cholesterol –Physical Inactivity –Diabetes –High Triglyceride Levels –Obesity –Psychological & Social Factors –Hypertension –Aging –Male –Ethnicity –Syndrome X

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Facts about Cardiovascular Disease Facts about Cardiovascular Disease –Mortality of CVD is 1½ times that of cancer –Quality of life diminished for 25% of population –Strokes account for 1/6 of all CVD hospitalizations –Congestive heart failure is most frequent cause of hospital visits by people over 65 –Impact is far reaching

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS Gene Transfer Gene Transfer Modification Modification –Genetically defective contractile proteins –Myocardial cells –Cardiac protein profile to rebuild muscle –Enhance contractility Replacement Replacement –Artherosclerosis prevention Regrowth Regrowth –Alternatives to invasive surgery –Repair damaged tissue and improve heart function after infarction

BEST SOLUTION Regrowth with the use of Stem Cells Regrowth with the use of Stem Cells –Proven successful on mice –Testing on non-human primates to begin –Angiogenesis “opens up” blocked vessels –Effectiveness on cardiac muscle

CONCLUSION With human gene mapping complete, does prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the nation’s leading killer, lie within human genes? With human gene mapping complete, does prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the nation’s leading killer, lie within human genes? Push for gene therapy with stem cells on humans Push for gene therapy with stem cells on humans

REFERENCES 1. Core Concepts In Health, by Insel & Roth pgs. 10, , 446, 454, Primary site – CVD/gene therapy paper Common viriants of most human genes Understanding DNA variations Explaining the human genome project blications/Maps_to_medicine/about/html blications/Maps_to_medicine/about/html blications/Maps_to_medicine/about/html

REFERENCES 6. Angiogenesis Stem cells Gene clues and CVD Use of stem cellls on mice