The present invention deals with gene therapy for treating chronic heart failure and other cardiac disease states which are accompanied by a reduced number or functioning of myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors (&bgr;-AR). &bgr;-AR receptor function is augmented in transgenic animals by delivery and expression of a beta-2-adrenergic receptor gene or a gene encoding a beta adrenergic receptor kinase inhibitor, resulting in increased in vivo left ventricular function. The present invention includes recombinant plasmid vectors, alternative beta-adrenergic receptor gene delivery strategies, and transgenic mice carrying a &bgr;-AR transgene, a &bgr;-ARK transgene, or a &bgr;-ARK inhibitor transgene.
展开▼
