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ESI Special Topics, December 2003
Citing URL: http://www.esi-topics.com/erf/2003/december03-RogerJHajjar.html

From •>>December 2003

Roger J. Hajjar answers a few questions about this month's emerging research front in field of Biology & Biochemistry:

Biology & Biochemistry
Article: Targeting phospholamban by gene transfer in human heart failure
 Authors: del Monte, F;Harding, SE;Dec, GW;Gwathmey, JK;Hajjar, RJ
Journal: CIRCULATION, 105: (8) 904-907, FEB 26 2002
Addresses:
Massachusetts Gen Hosp, Cardiovasc Res Ctr, Heart Failure & Cardiac Transplantat Ctr, 149 13th St, CNY-4, 4215, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA.
Massachusetts Gen Hosp, Cardiovasc Res Ctr, Heart Failure & Cardiac Transplantat Ctr, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA.
Harvard Univ, Sch Med, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
Univ London Imperial Coll Sci Technol & Med, Natl Heart & Lung Inst, London, England.
    
 
Roger J. Hajjar's emerging research front paper (above) is also featured in the Research Front Map in the field of Biology & Biochemistry.


ST:  Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

The study addresses an important question about whether ablating phospholamban can rescue the phenotype of heart failure.

ST:  Could you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?

Blocking a key protein involved in calcium regulation can improve the function of failing heart cells. The work holds promise for treating congestive heart failure. For the study, we took cells from the hearts of nine end-stage patients who were about to undergo heart transplantations, with a goal of seeing if they could improve contraction and relaxation in these diseased cells using a gene therapy approach called antisense strategy. By injecting into cultured cells single-strand DNA that binds to the RNA message encoded by the phospholamban gene, the researchers were able to prevent the formation of the phospholamban protein. When we knocked down the amount of protein that was formed, the heart cell contractions became normal.

ST:  How did you become involved in this research?

A long-term interest in targeting signaling pathways in heart failure.End

Roger J. Hajjar, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Cardiovascular Research Center
Charlestown, MA, USA
 
Roger J. Hajjar's emerging research front paper (above) is also featured in the Research Front Map in the field of Biology & Biochemistry.

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ESI Special Topics, December 2003
Citing URL: http://www.esi-topics.com/erf/2003/december03-RogerJHajjar.html
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