Gene therapy for regulating smooth muscle tone

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a method of regulating smooth muscle tone, comprising the introduction, into smooth muscle cells of a subject, of a DNA sequence encoding a protein involved in the regulation of smooth muscle tone, and expression of the DNA sequence in a sufficient number of smooth muscle cells of the subject to regulate smooth muscle tone in the subject. Specifically, the invention provides methods of gene therapy for treating erectile dysfunction, bladder dysfunction, and other smooth muscle disorders. The present invention also provides recombinant viral and non-viral vectors comprising DNA encoding a protein involved in the regulation of smooth muscle tone. Further provided by the present invention is a smooth muscle cell which expresses a gene encoding a protein involved in the regulation of smooth muscle tone.

1 - 36 . (canceled)  
     
     
         37 . A method for transferring a gene encoding a potassium channel protein to smooth muscle cells in a subject, the method comprising the introduction by naked DNA transfer and the expression of a DNA sequence comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a sequence encoding a potassium channel protein in smooth muscle cells of the subject.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the smooth muscle cells are located in the urinary bladder, bowel, endopelvic fascia, prostate gland, ureter, urethra, uterus, or vas deferens of the subject.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the smooth muscle cells are bladder smooth muscle cells.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the smooth muscle cells are penile smooth muscle cells.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the promoter is a smooth muscle specific promoter.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the potassium channel protein is maxi-K or K ATP .  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the smooth muscle cells are detrusor smooth muscle cells and wherein the DNA sequence is introduced across the urothelium.