Effect of elastase on aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation.
We studied the effects of elastase on [3H]thymidine incorporation into aortic smooth muscle cells. When elastase was added to cultured aortic smooth muscle cells, [3H]thymidine incorporation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of fetal bovine serum. Elastase also inhibited this incorporation in cells treated with epidermal growth factor. Epidermal growth factor (50 ng/ml) stimulated thymidine incorporation, without elastase, but with the addition of 20 units/ml of elastase the incorporation was inhibited 70%. The incorporation of thymidine into cells treated with 50 ng/ml epidermal growth factor was also inhibited 50% by a low concentration of elastase (5 units/ml). These inhibitory effects on thymidine incorporation were also observed in cells stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor. Platelet-derived growth factor (20 units/ml) markedly stimulated thymidine incorporation into cells, and elastase inhibited its activity in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that elastase has the potential to prevent the development of atherosclerosis by inhibiting smooth muscle proliferation.
Kawaguchi
H
H
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Sano
H
H
Kudo
T
T
Yasuda
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D004247:DNA; D004549:Elastin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D013936:Thymidine