Effect of FTY720 on apoptosis of smooth muscle cells.
BACKGROUND
Hyperproliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plays a key role in allograft arteriosclerosis. This prompted us to investigate the effect of the novel immune modulator and synthetic sphingolipid FTY720 on apoptosis of SMCs.


METHODS
Rabbit SMC cultures were treated with FTY720 and apoptosis and necrosis were detected by fluorescence microscopy.


RESULTS
We investigated dose- and time-dependent effects of FTY720 and found that clinically relevant low doses of FTY720 (<1 micromol/L) did not induce apoptosis, whereas 10 micromol/L FTY720 induced apoptosis after 48 hours incubation.


CONCLUSIONS
At doses of FTY720 used in clinics for treatment of renal allografts and multiple sclerosis. FTY720 did not induce SMC apoptosis.
Böhler
T
T
INSERM U858, CHU Rangueil, 31403 Toulouse, France. boehlert@toulouse.inserm.fr
Guillebaud
J
J
Etienne
L
L
Canivet
C
C
Kamar
N
N
Rostaing
L
L
Thiers
J C
JC
Galvani
S
S
Augé
N
N
Salvayre
R
R
Nègre-Salvayre
A
A
Thomsen
M
M
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D013110:Sphingosine