title: Potent inhibition of arterial intimal hyperplasia by TIMP1 gene transfer using AAV vectors.
abstract: Seminal to the process of arterial restenosis after balloon angioplasty is extracellular matrix degradation by metalloproteinases (MMPs); activity of these proteins is strongly inhibited by the tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). Here we exploit gene transfer using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) for TIMP1 gene delivery in a rat model of intimal hyperplasia. High-titer AAV-Timp1 efficiently transduced human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vitro and inhibited the capacity of these cells to migrate through a Matrigel barrier. In injured rat carotid arteries, AAV vectors were found to transduce SMCs efficiently and to maintain transgene expression for several weeks in vivo. In AAV-Timp1-transduced animals, the intima:media ratio of injured carotids was significantly reduced by 70.5% after 2 weeks, by 58.5% after 1 month, and by 52.4% after 2 months from treatment. The decrease in intimal hyperplasia was paralleled by a significant inhibition of collagen accumulation and by increased elastin deposition in the neointima, two findings that relate to the inhibition of MMP activity. These results indicate that AAV vectors are efficient tools for delivering genes to the arterial wall and emphasize the importance of MMPs for the generation of intimal hyperplasia. Local TIMP1 gene transfer might thus represent an efficient strategy to prevent restenosis.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Padriciano 99, 34012 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Genaro A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ramirez Correa
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zacchigna
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arsic
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zentilin
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sinagra
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giacca
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D004549:Elastin / Q000032:analysis; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9