Cell-Specific Targeting of the Endothelium in the Cardiorenal Syndrome

Abstract

Background: The vascular endothelium serves as a semi-selective permeable barrier as a conduit for transport of fluid, solutes, and various cell populations between the vessel lumen and tissues. The endothelium thus has a dynamic role in the regulation of coagulation, immune system, lipid and electrolyte transport, as well as neurohumoral influences on vascular tone and end-organ injury to tissues such as the heart and kidney.

Summary: Within this framework, pharmacologic strategies for heart and kidney diseases including blood pressure, glycemic control, and lipid reduction provide significant risk reduction, yet certain populations are at risk for substantial residual risk for disease progression and treatment resistance and often have unwanted off-target effects leaving the need for adjunct, alternative targeted therapies. Recent advances in techniques in sequencing and spatial transcriptomics have paved the way for the development of new therapies for targeting heart and kidney disease that include various gene, cell, and nano-based therapies. Cell-specific endothelium-specific targeting of viral vectors will enable their use for the treatment of heart and kidney diseases with gene therapy that can avoid unwanted off-target effects, improve treatment resistance, and reduce residual risk for disease progression.

Key messages: The vascular endothelium is an important therapeutic target for chronic kidney and cardiovascular diseases. Developing endothelial-specific gene therapies can benefit patients who develop resistance to current treatments.

Keywords: Endothelium; Gene therapy; Kidney; Viral vectors.