Effects of curcumin for preventing restenosis in a hypercholesterolemic rabbit iliac artery stent model.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of the curcumin-coating stent (CCS) on the inhibition of restenosis in a rabbit iliac artery stent model.


RESULTS
Curcumin, pigment naturally acquired from the rhizome of the plant curcuma longa, is known to have antiproliferative, antimigratory, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is still unclear that curcumin can inhibit neointimal proliferation of the injured vessel.


METHODS
Dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth was observed over a dose range from 10 nM to 10 microM. CCS was prepared by a dip-coating method (high-dose: HD, low-dose: LD). The release profile of the HD CCS showed that drug release persisted until day 21. Scanning electron microscopy of the CCS showed an intact surface of the stent even after expansion. To test the efficacy of CCS in vivo, LD CCS, HD CCS, and bare metal stents (BMS) were implanted in random order in one iliac artery (N = 30 arteries) of male New Zealand White rabbits (N = 15).


RESULTS
After 28 days, the LD and HD CCS groups had a 43% and 55% reduction in the neointimal area, compared with the BMS group (BMS 3.3 +/- 1.0 mm(2), LD 1.9 +/- 0.8 mm(2), and HD 0.9 +/- 0.5 mm(2), P < 0.05). There appeared to be no cytotoxicity related to curcumin at the indicated doses.


CONCLUSIONS
Curcumin, a natural compound in the human diet, seems to be a safe and effective candidate drug for use in a drug-eluting stent for the prevention of stent restenosis following angioplasty.
Jang
Hyung-Suk
HS
Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sunkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul, South Korea.
Nam
Hye Yeong
HY
Kim
Jeong-Min
JM
Hahm
Dong-Hoon
DH
Nam
So Hee
SH
Kim
Koung Li
KL
Joo
Jae-Ryang
JR
Suh
Wonhee
W
Park
Jong-Sang
JS
Kim
Duk Kyung
DK
Gwon
Hyeon-Cheol
HC
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000818:Animals; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077214:Becaplermin; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D000077214:Becaplermin; D003474:Curcumin