Adeno-Associated Viruses as Gene Delivery Tools for Diabetic Heart Disease and Failure: Key Considerations for Clinicians and Preclinical Researchers.

Diabetes is becoming more common worldwide, and people with diabetes are twice as likely to experience heart problems compared to those without diabetes. These cardiovascular complications are the foremost cause of mortality among people with diabetes. A specific form of heart failure known as "diabetic cardiomyopathy" can develop in individuals with diabetes. There are no treatments specifically approved for diabetic cardiomyopathy. Ongoing research is exploring innovative treatments, including the development of gene therapy techniques (e.g., adeno-associated viral vectors) designed to target specific molecular pathways affected in the disease. Here, we discuss the progress, challenges, and experimental considerations of gene therapy for the diabetic heart.