Constructs for Enhanced Production of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase and Methods of Producing Cellular Compositions for Treatment of Pulmonary and Cardiac Diseases

Abstract

Nucleic acid molecules comprising truncated forms of the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter are operably linked to a transgene of interest, including those encoding eNOS protein are taught. Vectors comprising these nucleic acid molecules and host cells transformed by these vectors and methods of producing cellular compositions are used for the treatment of a variety of pulmonary and cardiac diseases. There is provided a truncated human cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer element comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 or a functional derivative thereof. A truncated human cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter comprising the truncated CMV enhancer element is taught. A polynucleotide expression cassette comprising the truncated CMV promoter and a transcribable polynucleotide operably linked to the truncated CMV promoter polynucleotide construct, a host cell comprising the polynucleotide expression cassette, and use of the host cell treat renal, vascular, pulmonary, or cardiac disease in the patient are taught.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.