title: Cysteinyl leukotriene D4 induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation: a possible role in myointimal hyperplasia.
abstract: Cysteinyl leukotrienes (i.e. LTC4, LTD4), produced by activated leukocytes or by transcellular metabolism may act at different levels on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) during inflammatory process or atherosclerosis. We studied the effect of LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 on the in vitro proliferation of rat VSMC, measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell count. LTD4 had a stronger stimulatory effect on [3H]-thymidine incorporation than LTC4, whereas LTE4 was inactive. The effect of LTD4 on [3H]-thymidine incorporation was dose-dependent, with the maximal activity at 10(-6) M. The stimulatory activity of LTD4 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by MK-571, a specific LTD4 receptor antagonist. In addition, MK-571 (1 mg/kg/day) given for at least 1 day after injury in a model of balloon catheter injury of rat carotid artery, provided effective inhibition of myointimal VSMC proliferation, with a 58% reduction of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake in the neointima and 69% reduction of neointimal thickening. Our data support the importance of inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and suggest a possible role for cysteinyl leukotrienes, specifically LTD4, in the control of VSMC proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università G.D'Annuzio, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porreca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Febbo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Sciullo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Angelucci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasuti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitullo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reale
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cuccurullo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poggi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006965:Hyperplasia; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D017998:Leukotriene D4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D011422:Propionates / Q000494:pharmacology; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011422:Propionates; D011804:Quinolines; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene; C059141:verlukast; D017998:Leukotriene D4; C412375:cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2; C083169:leukotriene D4 receptor