[Effects of VCAM-1 siRNA on restenosis following carotid endarterectomy: experiment with rats].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the inhibitory effects of VCAM-1 siRNA on VCAM-1 protein expression and restenosis following carotid endarterectomy in rats.


METHODS
Lentivirus-based VCAM-1 siRNA was constructed and its efficacy of blocking VCAM-1 protein expression in endothelial cells and carotids was identified by Western blot. Doppler ultrasonography and morphometric analysis were performed to measure the degree of restenosis.


RESULTS
VCAM-1 siRNA decreased the protein expression of VCAM-1 in cultured endothelial cells and carotids. Treatment of VCAM-1 siRNA showed a significant reduction in the restenosis and manifested as an increased blood velocity and linear diameter as compared with control siRNA (P < 0.05). Morphometric analysis showed that the ratio of intima to media area (I/M) increased significantly in CEA group (3.99 +/- 0.65) versus sham-operated group (0.35 +/- 0.13) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, VCAM-1 siRNA resulted in an evident decrease in the neointimal area (1.79 +/- 0.43) as compared with that of the control siRNA (4.33 +/- 0.59) (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
VCAM-1 plays an important role in pathogenesis of restenosis after carotid endarterectomy. VCAM-1 siRNA blocks VCAM-1 protein expression and alleviates the restenosis following carotid endarterectomy in rats.
Qu
Yan-Ming
YM
Department of Neurosurgery, Capital Medical University Affiliated Fuxing Hospital, Beijing 100038, China.
Shi
Xiang-En
XE
Zhang
Hong-Wei
HW
Yu
Chun-Jiang
CJ
D000818:Animals; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014162:Transfection; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics*
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1