title: Low molecular weight (LMW) heparin inhibits injury-induced femoral artery remodeling in mouse via upregulating CD44 expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mechanism of postangioplasty restenosis remains poorly understood. Low molecular weight (LMW) heparin has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which is the principal characteristic of restenosis. Studies have shown that LMW heparin could bind to CD44. We hypothesized that LMW heparin might modulate CD44 expression thereby decreasing vascular remodeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vascular remodeling was induced in CD44(+/+) and CD44(-/-) mice and treated with LMW heparin. The arteries were harvested for histologic assessment and determination of CD44 expression. Bone marrow transplantation was introduced to further explore the role and functional sites of CD44. Effects of LMW heparin on growth capacity, CD44 expression were further studied using the cultured mouse VSMCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transluminal injury induced remarkable remodeling in mouse femoral artery (sham wall thickness percentage [WT%]: 3.4 ± 1.2% vs injury WT%: 31.8 ± 4.7%; P < .001). LMW heparin reduced the remodeling significantly (WT%: 17.8 ± 3.5%, P < .005). CD44(-/-) mice demonstrated considerably thicker arterial wall remodeling (WT%: 46.2 ± 7.6%, P = .0035), and CD44-chimeric mice exhibited equal contributions of the local and circulating CD44 signal to the neointima formation. LMW heparin markedly upregulated CD44 expression in the injured femoral arteries. In vitro, LMW heparin decreased mouse VSMC growth capacity and upregulated its CD44 expression simultaneously in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, which could be partially blocked by CD44 inhibitor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LMW heparin inhibits injury-induced femoral artery remodeling, at least partially, by upregulating CD44 expression.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Gaofeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Rahamthulla S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Shaik
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beagle
authors.forename: Shuennwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hales
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C476399:Cd44 protein, mouse; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors