title: Effect of the antioxidant Nicanartine on the proliferative and inflammatory response after experimental balloon angioplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antioxidant treatment seems to reduce the development of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. In this study, the effect of Nicanartine, a new antioxidant drug with both antiproliferative and lipid-lowering properties, on the proliferative and inflammatory response after balloon angioplasty was investigated in a rabbit model of restenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  To induce pre-interventional plaques in the common carotid artery of 48 New Zealand White rabbits, electrostimulation was carried out for 28 days. After a break of 7 days, balloon angioplasty was performed in 36 animals, of which 18 received Nicanartine at a dose of 120 mg/kg body weight; the other 18 served as a control group. The vessels were excised by day 7 and 28 after balloon angioplasty and examined for intimal plaque size, macrophage content and proliferative activity. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling was used to determine proliferating cells in the dilated segment; macrophages were detected using the RAM-11 antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Nicanartine-treated group, immunohistological quantification 7 days after intervention showed a statistically significant (P< 0.05) reduction of both cells undergoing DNA synthesis (1.6+/-1.4% versus 3.7+/-2.2%) and intimal macrophages (0.7+/-1.2% versus 1.3+/-0.6%). Twenty-eight days after balloon angioplasty, proliferative activity in both groups was decreased to a level comparable to the non-dilated control groups. A clear trend towards smaller plaques could be seen in the Nicanartine group (0.146+/-0.077 mm2 versus 0.255+/-0.174 mm2). Total cholesterol levels did not differ significantly between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under treatment with Nicanartine a clear reduction in the proliferative and inflammatory response after balloon angioplasty was observed. Antioxidant treatment, especially with compounds having antiproliferative and lipid-lowering properties, appears to be an effective secondary preventive strategy after interventional treatment in patients with coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wohlfrom
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kamenz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voisard
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heise
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seibold
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quack
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wühlfroth
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hanke
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011725:Pyridines; C100546:nicanartine