The proliferation of neointimal smooth muscle cells cultured from rabbit aortic explants 15 weeks after de-endothelialization by a balloon catheter.
Endothelial denudation of rabbit aorta induces smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation, resulting in a thickened neointima, showing features in common with atherosclerotic lesions. The SMC proliferation has been reported as a transient healing process, which regresses when the neointima is covered by regenerated endothelium. In this study, we examined the cellular proliferation of neointimal SMC, derived from denuded and from re-endothelialized areas of aortic explants. The results show that the neointimal SMC retain a higher rate of proliferation, even 15 weeks after a single endothelial injury by a balloon catheter. Neointimal SMC release more PDGF-AB and TGF-beta 1, which may play a mitogenic role for SMC proliferation. The data demonstrating that injury-induced stimulation of neointimal SMC proliferation is a persistent process, emphasize the importance of injury mechanisms of atherogenesis.
Li
Z
Z
Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Alavi
M Z
MZ
Moore
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D002404:Catheterization; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2