Potent inhibitory effect of sirolimus on circulating vascular progenitor cells.
BACKGROUND
Neointimal hyperplasia is the major cause of in-stent restenosis (ISR). The sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) has emerged as a promising therapy to prevent ISR; however, the exact mechanism by which locally delivered sirolimus, an immunosuppressive agent, prevents ISR remains unknown. Recent evidence suggests that circulating progenitor cells may contribute to neointimal formation.


RESULTS
Mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy human volunteers. Smooth muscle (SM)-like cells outgrew from the culture of MNCs (1x10(6)) in the presence of platelet-derived growth factor-BB and basic fibroblast growth factor, whereas endothelial cell-like cells were obtained in the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor. Sirolimus potently inhibited SM-like cell outgrowth. The number of SM-like cells was significantly reduced at a concentration as low as 0.1 ng/mL (15.9+/-5.8% of control, P<0.001). Sirolimus also exerted an inhibitory effect on endothelial cell-like cells that originated from MNCs. Wire-mediated vascular injury was induced in femoral arteries of bone marrow chimeric mice. Either vehicle or sirolimus was administered locally to the perivascular area of the injured arteries. Sirolimus significantly reduced neointima hyperplasia at 4 weeks (intima/media ratio 2.0+/-0.3 versus 1.0+/-0.2, P<0.05) with a decreased number of bone marrow-derived SM-like cells and hematopoietic cells in the lesion. Reendothelialization was retarded in the arteries treated with sirolimus.


CONCLUSIONS
The potent inhibitory effects of sirolimus on circulating smooth muscle progenitor cells may mediate the clinical efficacy of SES, at least in part. Sirolimus potentially may affect reendothelialization after stent implantation.
Fukuda
Daiju
D
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Sata
Masataka
M
Tanaka
Kimie
K
Nagai
Ryozo
R
D000818:Animals; D001773:Blood Cells; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000293:injuries; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007763:Lac Operon; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects
D006133:Growth Substances; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D020123:Sirolimus