METHODS TO IMPROVE CREATINE KINASE METABOLISM AND CONTRACTILE FUNCTION IN CARDIAC MUSCLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE

摘要

The present invention relates to novel treatments of mammalian and human heart failure directed at improving cardiac creatine kinase metabolism, the prime energy reserve of cardiac muscle. The invention also relates to novel treatments using gene transfer vectors to increase myocardial creatine kinase protein expression and/or creatine kinase activity, as well as flux through the creatine kinase reaction and to thereby improve cardiac contractile function and ameliorate remodeling in heart failure. The invention further relates to methods for screening and identifying compounds that increase creatine kinase expression and/or creatine kinase activity as potential pharmaceutical compositions for heart failure therapy.