Background: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), which is a neural peptide, has been reported to confer cardioprotective effects. However, whether CNTF-based gene therapy could prevent cardiac remodelling remains incompletely clear. In this study, we used adeno-associated viral vector serotype 9 (AAV9)-based cardiac gene therapy to test the effects of CNTF overexpression on adverse ventricular remodelling in angiotensin II (Ang II)-infused mice. Methods: First, AAV9-EGFP and AAV9-CNTF constructs were generated with virus concentration at 5 x 10(12) vg/ml. Next, postnatal (P3-P10) mice with C57B...
