European journal of clinical investigation
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2005
Recombinant human erythropoietin: effects on frataxin expression in vitro.
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by decreased expression of the protein frataxin, recently described to be an iron chaperone for the assembly of iron-sulphur clusters in the mitochondria, causing iron accumulation in mitochondria, oxidative stress and cell damage. Searching for compounds that could possibly influence frataxin expression, we found that the cytokine recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) significantly increases frataxin expression by a still unknown mechanism. ⋯ Our results provide a scientific basis for further studies examining the effectiveness of this agent for the treatment of FRDA patients.
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Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Nov 2005
Combined cord blood stem cells and gene therapy enhances angiogenesis and improves cardiac performance in mouse after acute myocardial infarction.
Gene and stem cell therapies hold promise for the treatment of ischaemic cardiovascular disease. However, combined stem cell and angiogenic growth factor gene therapy for acute ischaemic myocardium has not been previously reported. This study hypothesized that combined stem cell and gene therapy would not only augment new vessels formation but also improve myocardial function in acute ischaemic myocardium. ⋯ Combined therapy with human umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells and both Ang1 and VEGF genes reduced infarct size, attenuated the progression of cardiac dysfunction and increased capillary density in acute myocardial infarction in mice.