Myocardial Gene Transfer and Overexpression of β ₂ -Adrenergic Receptors Potentiates the Functional Recovery of Unloaded Failing Hearts

Abstract

Heterotopic transplantation in the rabbit does allow recovery of the failing heart, and beta2AR overexpression acutely enhances this functional improvement. Accordingly, genetic manipulation of betaAR signaling may represent a novel molecular adjunct to mechanical assistance to facilitate functional myocardial recovery.