title: Differential effects of IFN-beta1b on the proliferation of human vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells.
abstract: The effect of human interferon (IFN)-beta1b (Betaseron) on the proliferation of cultured human vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells was tested in vitro. IFN-beta1b inhibited thymidine incorporation and growth of primary cultures of human aortic and coronary artery smooth muscle in a concentration-dependent manner. The same concentrations of IFN-beta1b did not inhibit thymidine incorporation or growth of primary cultures of human aortic or coronary artery endothelial cells. IFN-beta1b induced the expression of MxA (an antiviral protein induced by type I IFNs) in both smooth muscle and endothelial cells, suggesting that both cell types express receptors for type I IFNs. The growth-inhibitory effect of IFN-beta1b could be mimicked by commercially available human IFN-beta, but not by IFN-alpha2 or IFN-alpha8. The effect of IFN-beta1b was species specific, as it did not inhibit thymidine incorporation in aortic smooth muscle cells derived from pig, rabbit, rat, or mouse. The action of IFN-beta1b on smooth muscle cells persisted for at least 4 days following a 24 h preincubation with IFN-beta1b. Human vascular smooth muscle cells treated with IFN-beta1b did not release lactate dehydrogenase, nor did they show any morphologic change, suggesting that IFN-beta1b was not toxic to the human vascular smooth muscle cells. IFN-beta1b inhibited vascular smooth muscle growth while having no growth-inhibitory effect on endothelial cells obtained from the same blood vessel, making it a potential candidate for treating pathologic conditions where abnormal vascular smooth muscle proliferation is implicated, such as restenosis following balloon angioplasty or smooth muscle proliferation following vascular stenting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Research, Berlex Biosciences, Richmond, CA 94804-4099, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mintzer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Croze
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rubanyi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johns
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D013936:Thymidine; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a