Apelin-13促进血管平滑肌细胞增殖、迁移和血管新生内膜增生

研究apelin-13对血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscle cell, VSMC）增殖和迁移的影响及其作用机制.用免疫印迹分析检测apelin-13对VSMC增殖、迁移以及分化相关基因表达的影响,结果表明,apelin-13能以时间和浓度依赖的方式诱导VSMC增殖和迁移相关基因cyclin D1和MMP-2表达,促进细胞增殖和迁移;同时使VSMC分化标志基因SM22α和SM α-actin表达水平降低.而且,用鬼笔环肽对细胞骨架进行染色的结果显示,apelin-13可以促进VSMC从收缩表型向增殖表型转化.体内实验也表明,敲低apelin可抑制球囊损伤诱导的新生内膜形成,提示apelin-13在体内具有促进血管新生内膜形成的作用.总之,本文结果表明,apelin 13通过调节VSMC增殖、迁移以及分化基因表达,进而促进其从分化型向增殖型转化,并向内膜下迁移和增殖.     

Decorin Mimic Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Proliferation and Migration

Over the past 10 years, the number of percutaneous coronary intervention procedures performed in the United States increased by 33%; however, restenosis, which inhibits complete functional recovery of the vessel wall, complicates this procedure. A wide range of anti-restenotic therapeutics have been developed, although many elicit non-specific effects that compromise vessel healing. Drawing inspiration from biologically-relevant molecules, our lab developed a mimic of the natural proteoglycan decorin, termed DS-SILY, which can mask exposed collagen and thereby effectively decrease platelet activation, thus contributing to suppression of vascular intimal hyperplasia. Here, we characterize the effects of DS-SILY on both proliferative and quiescent human SMCs to evaluate the potential impact of DS-SILY-SMC interaction on restenosis, and further characterize in vivo platelet interactions. DS-SILY decreased proliferative SMC proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro in a concentration dependent manner as compared to untreated controls. The addition of DS-SILY to in vitro SMC cultures decreased SMC migration and protein synthesis by 95% and 37%, respectively. Furthermore, DS-SILY decreased platelet activation, as well as reduced neointimal hyperplasia by 60%, in vivo using Ossabaw swine. These results indicate that DS-SILY demonstrates multiple biological activities that may all synergistically contribute to an improved treatment paradigm for balloon angioplasty.     

Bindarit Inhibits Human Coronary Artery Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation,Migration and Phenotypic Switching

Bindarit, a selective inhibitor of monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCPs) synthesis, reduces neointimal formation in animal models of vascular injury and recently has been shown to inhibit in-stent late loss in a placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial. However, the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of bindarit in controlling neointimal formation/restenosis have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the effect of bindarit on human coronary smooth muscle cells activation, drawing attention to the phenotypic modulation process, focusing on contractile proteins expression as well as proliferation and migration. The expression of contractile proteins was evaluated by western blot analysis on cultured human coronary smooth muscle cells stimulated with TNF-α (30 ng/mL) or fetal bovine serum (5%). Bindarit (100–300 µM) reduced the embryonic form of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain while increased smooth muscle α-actin and calponin in both TNF-α- and fetal bovine serum-stimulated cells. These effects were associated with the inhibition of human coronary smooth muscle cell proliferation/migration and both MCP-1 and MCP-3 production. The effect of bindarit on smooth muscle cells phenotypic switching was confirmed in vivo in the rat balloon angioplasty model. Bindarit (200 mg/Kg/day) significantly reduced the expression of the embryonic form of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, and increased smooth muscle α-actin and calponin in the rat carodid arteries subjected to endothelial denudation. Our results demonstrate that bindarit induces the differentiated state of human coronary smooth muscle cells, suggesting a novel underlying mechanisms by which this drug inhibits neointimal formation.     

Cell-Shape Regulation of Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) play an important role in vascular remodeling. Heterogeneity and phenotypic changes in SMCs are usually accompanied by a morphological difference, i.e., elongated/spindle-like versus spread-out or epithelioid/rhomboid cell shapes. However, it is not known whether the cell shape directly regulates SMC proliferation, and what the underlying mechanisms are. In this study, microgrooves and micropatterned matrix islands were used to engineer the cell shape and investigate the associated biophysical and biological mechanisms. Compared to spread-out SMCs on nonpatterned surfaces, SMCs on micropatterned surfaces demonstrated elongated morphology, significantly lower cell and nucleus shape indexes, less spreading, a lower proliferation rate, and a similar response (but to a lesser extent) to platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, and mechanical stretching. DNA microarray profiling revealed a lower expression of neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 (NOR-1) in elongated SMCs. Knocking down NOR-1 suppressed DNA synthesis in SMCs, suggesting that NOR-1 is a mediator of cell elongation effects. Regulation of DNA synthesis in SMCs by the cell shape alone and a decrease in DNA synthesis in the case of small cell spreading area were achieved by micropatterning SMCs on matrix islands of different shapes and spreading areas. Changes in the cell shape also affected the nucleus shape, whereas variations in the cell spreading area modulated the nucleus volume, indicating a possible link between nucleus morphology (both shape and volume) and DNA synthesis. The findings of this investigation provide insight into cell shape effects on cell structure and proliferation, and have direct implications for vascular pathophysiology.     

过表达CREG抑制ox-LDL诱导的人血管平滑肌细胞增殖

目的：探讨E1A 激活基因阻遏子（Cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes,CREG）在氧化型低密度脂蛋白（Oxidized lowdensity lipoprotein,ox-LDL）引起的人血管平滑肌细胞（Vascular smooth muscle cell,VSMC）增殖中的作用及可能机制。方法：用60滋g/mL ox-LDL处理人胸主动脉VSMC,在不同时间点（0 h,12 h,24 h,48 h）计数细胞并绘制生长曲线;在48 h时间点进行BrdU染色检测增殖细胞的比率;采用Western Blot 检测各时间点CREG 表达。通过向VSMC 中转染携带CREG基因的质粒载体,筛选获得过表达CREG 的VSMC（VSMCCREG）。进一步用ox-LDL 处理VSMCCREG,采用前述方法绘制生长曲线、进行48 h时间点BrdU染色并检测CREG 和磷酸化Erk1/2 的表达。结果：与未经处理的对照组VSMC 相比,ox-LDL处理的VMSC 细胞总数及BrdU阳性细胞比率显著增加;并且,CREG 表达随处理时间延长逐渐降低。此外,与ox-LDL 处理的VSMC 组相比,ox-LDL 处理的VSMCCREG 组细胞总数及BrdU 阳性细胞比率均显著下降;并且CREG 表达增加、磷酸化Erk1/2 水平下降。结论：过表达CREG 可能通过降低Erk1/2 磷酸化抑制ox-LDL诱导的人VSMC 增殖。     

Adenovirus-Mediated NDRG2 Inhibits the Proliferation of Human Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Line OS-RC-2 in Vitro

The objective of the study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of adenovirus-mediated N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) on the proliferation of human renal cell carcinoma cell line OS-RC-2 in vitro. NDRG2 was harvested by RT-PCR, confirmed by DNA sequencing, and then cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pIRES2-EGFP, which encodes green fluorescent protein (GFP), to construct pIRES2-EGFP-NDRG2 plasmid. OS-RC-2 cells with NDRG2 negative expression were transfected with pIRES2-EGFP-NDRG2 plasmid. The growth of transfected OS-RC-2 cells was observed under the light and fluorescence microscopes. After colony-forming cell assays, cell proliferation detection, and MTT assays, the growth curves of cells in each group were plotted to investigate the inhibitory effects of adenovirus-mediated NDRG2 on the proliferation of OS-RC-2 cells. Cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was applied to determine the specific location of NDRG2 protein in subcellular level. A eukaryotic expression vector pIRES2-EGFP-NDRG2 was successfully constructed. After NDRG2 transfection, the growth of OS-RC-2 cells was inhibited. Flow cytometry showed that cells were arrested in S phase but the peak of cell apoptosis was not present, and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that NDRG2 protein was located in mitochondrion. In conclusion, NDRG2 can significantly inhibit the proliferation of OS-RC-2 cells in vitro and its protein is specifically expressed in the mitochondrion.     

Angiotensin II Inhibits Satellite Cell Proliferation and Prevents Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Cachexia is a serious complication of many chronic diseases, such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although patients with advanced CHF or CKD often have increased angiotensin II (Ang II) levels and cachexia and Ang II causes skeletal muscle wasting in rodents, the potential effects of Ang II on muscle regeneration are unknown. Muscle regeneration is highly dependent on the ability of a pool of muscle stem cells (satellite cells) to proliferate and to repair damaged myofibers or form new myofibers. Here we show that Ang II reduced skeletal muscle regeneration via inhibition of satellite cell (SC) proliferation. Ang II reduced the number of regenerating myofibers and decreased expression of SC proliferation/differentiation markers (MyoD, myogenin, and active-Notch) after cardiotoxin-induced muscle injury in vivo and in SCs cultured in vitro. Ang II depleted the basal pool of SCs, as detected in Myf5^nLacZ/+ mice and by FACS sorting, and this effect was inhibited by Ang II AT1 receptor (AT1R) blockade and in AT1aR-null mice. AT1R was highly expressed in SCs, and Notch activation abrogated the AT1R-mediated antiproliferative effect of Ang II in cultured SCs. In mice that developed CHF postmyocardial infarction, there was skeletal muscle wasting and reduced SC numbers that were inhibited by AT1R blockade. Ang II inhibition of skeletal muscle regeneration via AT1 receptor-dependent suppression of SC Notch and MyoD signaling and proliferation is likely to play an important role in mechanisms leading to cachexia in chronic disease states such as CHF and CKD.     

Nitric Oxide Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Neointimal Hyperplasia by Increasing the Ubiquitination and Degradation of UbcH10

Nitric oxide (NO) limits formation of neointimal hyperplasia in animal models of arterial injury in large part by inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation through cell cycle arrest. The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UbcH10 is responsible for ubiquitinating cell cycle proteins for proper exit from mitosis. We hypothesize that NO prevents VSMC proliferation, and hence neointimal hyperplasia, by decreasing levels of UbcH10. Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining showed that NO reduced UbcH10 levels in a concentration-dependent manner in VSMC harvested from the abdominal aortas of Sprague-Dawley rats. Treatment with NO or siRNA to UbcH10 decreased both UbcH10 levels and VSMC proliferation (P<0.001), while increasing UbcH10 levels by plasmid transfection or angiotensin II stimulation increased VSMC proliferation to 150% (P=0.008) and 212% (P=0.002) of control, respectively. Immunofluorescent staining of balloon-injured rat carotid arteries showed a ~4-fold increase in UbcH10 levels, which was profoundly decreased following treatment with NO. Western blotting of carotid artery lysates showed no UbcH10 in uninjured vessels, a substantial increase in the injury alone group, and a significant decrease in the injury+NO group (~3-fold reduction versus injury alone). Importantly, in vitro and in vivo, a marked increase in polyubiquitinated UbcH10 was observed in the NO-treated VSMC and carotid arteries, respectively, indicating that NO may be decreasing unmodified UbcH10 levels by increasing its ubiquitination. Central to our hypothesis, we report that NO decreases UbcH10 levels in VSMC in vitro and following arterial injury in vivo in association with increasing polyubiquitinated-UbcH10 levels. These changes in UbcH10 levels correlate with VSMC proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia, making UbcH10 a promising therapeutic target for inhibiting this proliferative disease.     

Mir-206 Regulates Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Differentiation

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a progressive devastating disease characterized by excessive proliferation of the Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells (PASMCs). Studies suggest that PAH and cancers share an apoptosis-resistant state featuring excessive cell proliferation. MicroRNA-206 (miR-206) is known to regulate proliferation and is implicated in various types of cancers. However, the role of miR-206 in PAH has not been studied. In this study, it is hypothesized that miR-206 could play a role in the proliferation of PASMCs. In the present study, the expression patterns of miR-206 were investigated in normal and hypertensive mouse PASMCs. The effects of miR-206 in modulating cell proliferation, apoptosis and smooth muscle cell markers in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs) were investigated in vitro. miR-206 expression in mouse PASMCs was correlated with an increase in right ventricular systolic pressure. Reduction of miR-206 levels in hPASMCs causes increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis and these effects were reversed by the overexpression of miR-206. miR-206 over expression also increased the levels of smooth muscle cell differentiation markers α-smooth muscle actin and calponin implicating its importance in the differentiation of SMCs. miR-206 overexpression down regulated Notch-3 expression, which is key a factor in PAH development. These results suggest that miR-206 is a potential regulator of proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of PASMCs, and that it could be used as a novel treatment strategy in PAH.     

miR-599 Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Proliferation and Migration by Targeting TGFB2

Aberrant proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease, restenosis and atherosclerosis. MicroRNAs are a class of small, non-coding and endogenous RNAs that play critical roles in VSMCs function. In this study, we showed that PDGF-bb, as a stimulant, promoted VSMCs proliferation and suppressed the expression of miR-599. Moreover, overexpression of miR-599 inhibited VSMCs proliferation and also suppressed the PCNA and ki-67 expression. In addition, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of miR-599 repressed the VSMCs migration. We also showed that miR-599 inhibited type I collagen, type V collagen and proteoglycan expression. Furthermore, we identified TGFb2 as a direct target gene of miR-599 in VSMCs. Overexpression of TGFb2 reversed miR-599-induced inhibition of VSMCs proliferation and type I collagen, type V collagen and proteoglycan expression. In conclusion, our findings suggest miR-599 plays a crucial role in controlling VSMCs proliferation and matrix gene expression by regulating TGFb2 expression.     

Sodium Tanshinone IIA Silate Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Migration through Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells may perform a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular disease. AMPK additionally exerts several salutary effects on vascular function and improves vascular abnormalities. The current study sought to determine whether sodium tanshinone IIA silate (STS) has an inhibitory effect on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration under high glucose conditions mimicking diabetes without dyslipidemia, and establish the underlying mechanism. In this study, STS promoted the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) at T172 in VSMCs. VSMC proliferation was enhanced under high glucose (25 mM glucose, HG) versus normal glucose conditions (5.5 mM glucose, NG), and this increase was inhibited significantly by STS treatment. We utilized western blotting analysis to evaluate the effects of STS on cell-cycle regulatory proteins and found that STS increased the expression of p53 and the Cdk inhibitor, p21, subsequent decreased the expression of cell cycle-associated protein, cyclin D1. We further observed that STS arrested cell cycle progression at the G₀/G₁ phase. Additionally, expression and enzymatic activity of MMP-2, translocation of NF-κB, as well as VSMC migration were suppressed in the presence of STS. Notably, Compound C (CC), a specific inhibitor of AMPK, as well as AMPK siRNA blocked STS-mediated inhibition of VSMC proliferation and migration. We further evaluated its potential for activating AMPK in aortas in animal models of type 2 diabetes and found that Oral administration of STS for 10 days resulted in activation of AMPK in aortas from ob/ob or db/db mice. In conclusion, STS inhibits high glucose-induced VSMC proliferation and migration, possibly through AMPK activation. The growth suppression effect may be attributable to activation of AMPK-p53-p21 signaling, and the inhibitory effect on migration to the AMPK/NF-κB signaling axis.     

Micheliolide Derivative DMAMCL Inhibits Glioma Cell Growth In Vitro and In Vivo

BackgroundThere is no highly effective chemotherapy for malignant gliomas to date. We found that dimethylaminomicheliolide (DMAMCL), a selective inhibitor of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem/progenitor cells, inhibited the growth of glioma cells.MethodsThe distribution of DMAMCL in brain was analyzed by an ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) system. The anti-tumor evaluations of DMAMCL in vitro were performed by MTT, FACS and RT-PCR. In vivo, the mixture of C6 cells and matrigel was injected into caudatum, and the anti-tumor activity of DMAMCL was evaluated by tumor growth and rat survival. The toxicity of DMAMCL was evaluated by body weight, daily food intake, hematological or serum biochemical analyses, and histological appearance of tissues.ResultsThe IC₅₀ values of DMAMCL against the C6 and U-87MG cell lines in vitro were 27.18 ± 1.89 μM and 20.58 ± 1.61 μM, respectively. DAMMCL down-regulated the anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-2 and increased apoptosis in C6 and U-87MG cells in a dose-dependent manner. In a C6 rat tumor model, daily administration of DMAMCL for 21 days reduced the burden of C6 tumors by 60% to 88% compared to controls, and more than doubled the mean lifespan of tumor-bearing rats. Distribution analysis showed that the DMAMCL concentration was higher in the brain than in plasma. Evaluations for toxicity revealed that oral administration of DMAMCL at 200 or 300 mg/kg once a day for 21 days did not result in toxicity.ConclusionsThese results suggest that DMAMCL is highly promising for the treatment of glioma.     

PDZK1 Prevents Neointima Formation via Suppression of Breakpoint Cluster Region Kinase in Vascular Smooth Muscle

Scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI) and its adaptor protein PDZK1 mediate responses to HDL cholesterol in endothelium. Whether the receptor-adaptor protein tandem serves functions in other vascular cell types is unknown. The current work determined the roles of SR-BI and PDZK1 in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). To evaluate possible VSM functions of SR-BI and PDZK1 in vivo, neointima formation was assessed 21 days post-ligation in the carotid arteries of wild-type, SR-BI^-/- or PDZK1^-/- mice. Whereas neointima development was negligible in wild-type and SR-BI^-/-, there was marked neointima formation in PDZK1^-/- mice. PDZK1 expression was demonstrated in primary mouse VSM cells, and compared to wild-type cells, PDZK1^-/- VSM displayed exaggerated proliferation and migration in response to platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). Tandem affinity purification-mass spectrometry revealed that PDZK1 interacts with breakpoint cluster region kinase (Bcr), which contains a C-terminal PDZ binding sequence and is known to enhance responses to PDGF in VSM. PDZK1 interaction with Bcr in VSM was demonstrated by pull-down and by coimmunoprecipitation, and the augmented proliferative response to PDGF in PDZK1^-/- VSM was abrogated by Bcr depletion. Furthermore, compared with wild-type Bcr overexpression, the introduction of a Bcr mutant incapable of PDZK1 binding into VSM cells yielded an exaggerated proliferative response to PDGF. Thus, PDZK1 has novel SR-BI-independent function in VSM that affords protection from neointima formation, and this involves PDZK1 suppression of VSM cell proliferation via an inhibitory interaction with Bcr.     

The Ran GTPase-Activating Protein (RanGAP1) Is Critically Involved in Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation,Proliferation and Migration following Vascular Injury: Implications for Neointima Formation and Restenosis

Differentiation and dedifferentiation, accompanied by proliferation play a pivotal role for the phenotypic development of vascular proliferative diseases (VPD), such as restenosis. Increasing evidence points to an essential role of regulated nucleoporin expression in the choice between differentiation and proliferation. However, whether components of the Ran GTPase cycle, which is of pivotal importance for both nucleocytoplasmic transport and for mitotic progression, are subject to similar regulation in VPD is currently unknown. Here, we show that differentiation of human coronary artery smooth muscle cell (CASMC) to a contractile phenotype by stepwise serum depletion leads to significant reduction of RanGAP1 protein levels. The inverse event, dedifferentiation of cells, was assessed in the rat carotid artery balloon injury model, a well-accepted model for neointima formation and restenosis. As revealed by temporospatial analysis of RanGAP1 expression, neointima formation in rat carotid arteries was associated with a significant upregulation of RanGAP1 expression at 3 and 7 days after balloon injury. Of note, neointimal cells located at the luminal surface revealed persistent RanGAP1 expression, as opposed to cells in deeper layers of the neointima where RanGAP1 expression was less or not detectable at all. To gain first evidence for a direct influence of RanGAP1 levels on differentiation, we reduced RanGAP1 in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells by siRNA. Indeed, downregulation of the essential RanGAP1 protein by 50% induced a differentiated, spindle-like smooth muscle cell phenotype, accompanied by an upregulation of the differentiation marker desmin. Reduction of RanGAP1 levels also resulted in a reduction of mitogen induced cellular migration and proliferation as well as a significant upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27^KIP1, without evidence for cellular necrosis. These findings suggest that RanGAP1 plays a critical role in smooth muscle cell differentiation, migration and proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Appropriate modulation of RanGAP1 expression may thus be a strategy to modulate VPD development such as restenosis.     

Grape Seed Procyanidin B2 Inhibits Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Migration Induced by Advanced Glycation End Products

Advanced glycation end product (AGE)-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is vital to the progression of diabetic vasculopathy. A grape seed procyanidin extract has been reported to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and to display a significant cardiovascular protective effect, but little is know about the underlying mechanism. The objective of this present study was to determine whether GSPB2 (grape seed procyanidin B2), which is a dimeric procyanidin and more biologically active, could inhibit AGE-induced VSMC proliferation by affecting the production of ubiquitin COOH-terminal hydrolase 1 (UCH-L1), the degradation of IκB-α and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Our data show that GSPB2 preincubation markedly inhibited AGE-induced proliferation and migration of HASMCs in a dose-dependent manner and upregulated the protein level of UCH-L1. Further studies revealed that the GSPB2 pretreatment markedly attenuated the degradation of IκB-α and nuclear translocation of NF-κB by modulating ubiquitination of IκB-α in AGE-exposed HASMCs. These results collectively suggest that AGE-induced HASMC proliferation and migration was suppressed by GSPB2 through regulating UCH-L1 and ubiquitination of IκB-α. GSPB2 may therefore have therapeutic potential in preventing and treating vascular complications of diabetes mellitus.     

Interference of IP-10 Expression Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Intimal Hyperplasia in Carotid Artery: A New Insight in the Prevention of Restenosis

After vascular angioplasty, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation causes atherosclerosis and intimal hyperplasia leading to restenosis. Interferon-γ-inducible protein (IP)-10 plays a role in atherogenesis, but the mechanism remains unclear. We evaluated the role of IP-10 in intimal hyperplasia and restenosis. IP-10 expression was determined in arterial specimens from 20 arteriosclerotic obliteration patients and 6 healthy individuals. VSMCs were stimulated in vitro with IFN-γ and transfected with IP-10 siRNA. Silencing was verified with RT-PCR/Western blot; cell proliferation rate was detected by methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium. The carotid artery model of atherosclerosis injury was established with IP-10 siRNA. IP-10 expression was detected at 1 and 4 weeks using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Artery morphology was assessed with hematoxylin-and-eosin staining, and intimal hyperplasia was evaluated by electron microscopy. IP-10 was overexpressed in arteriosclerotic obliteration group compared with control group (P < 0.05). IP-10 expression in transfected group was significantly lower than in untransfected group. The intima-to-media ratio of transfected group at 4 weeks was lower than that of untransfected group (P < 0.01). The transfected group exhibited more regular intimal structure and less hyperplasia under electron microscopy. We, therefore, concluded that IP-10 played an important role in intimal hyperplasia as siRNA-mediated IP-10 silencing inhibited aberrant VSMCs hyperplasia and reduced restenosis.