全反式维甲酸对兔动脉粥样硬化病灶中MCP-1 和TLR-4

目的:观察全反式维甲酸(ATRA)对兔颈动脉粥样硬化性病灶中内膜增生、MCP-1及TLR-4表达的影响,探讨其可能的抗炎机制。方法:新西兰雄性大白兔随机分为9组(n=6):对照组(A、B、C)、治疗组(A、B、C)、假手术组(A、B、C)。除假手术组外,其余两组给予高脂饮食2周后,对照组及治疗组给予颈动脉内膜空气干燥术损伤颈动脉内膜,假手术组分离暴露颈动脉但不损伤内膜,治疗组术前3天给予ATRA灌胃,直至处死。术后分别于7d、14d、28d处死。采取颈动脉标本,对血管粥样硬化病变进行形态学观察及测定,采用免疫组化法检测MCP-1及TLR-4表达水平。结果:从形态学观察及免疫组化检测看,对照组较假手术组内膜明显增生,MCP-1及TLR-4表达增多,治疗组内膜较对照组增生减轻,两种因子表达减少。结论:全反式维甲酸(ATRA)对兔颈动脉粥样硬化性病灶中的抗炎作用可能是通过抑制MCP-1及TLR-4等炎症因子的表达来发挥作用的。     

Egr-1的诱骗性寡脱氧核苷酸抑制大鼠颈总动脉损伤后MMP-2的表达

目的观察局部转染早期生长反应因子-1(early growth response factor-1,Egr-1)的特异诱骗寡脱氧核苷酸(decoy oligodeoxynucleotides,decoy ODNs)对球囊损伤颈总动脉后基质金属蛋白酶-2(MMP-2)蛋白表达的影响及内膜增生的情况,初步探讨Egr-1,decoy ODNs抑制球囊损伤后内膜增生的机制。方法 96只健康雄性Wistar大鼠,随机分为4组,分别为假手术组、对照组、杂码组和诱骗组,每组24只。除假手术组外均应用2F球囊导管行颈总动脉球囊损伤术,术中采用转染试剂FuGENE6介导的Egr-1decoy ODNs转染至损伤后大鼠血管中,与假手术组、对照组、杂码组相比较。术后3、7、14、21d每组处死6只动物。应用HE染色和免疫组织化学方法观察大鼠颈总动脉球囊损伤后内膜增生情况和MMP-2蛋白的表达及转染Egr-1decoy ODNs后对它们的影响。结果 (1)、内膜损伤后3d内膜增厚不明显,7d内膜开始增厚,14、21d时内膜明显增厚。(2)、在假手术组近腔面中膜可见MMP-2有少量散在阳性表达;在对照组及杂码组动脉损伤后3d,在近腔面中膜,有少量阳性表达,与假手术组相比,阳性表达指数上升。7d时在新生内膜和靠近新生内膜处中膜表达明显,14d后表达逐渐下降。(3)转染decoy ODNs治疗后,在各个时间点内膜增厚程度减轻,MMP-2蛋白表达减少,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.01)。结论血管球囊损伤后,内膜7d开始增生,14d、21d增生更明显,而MMP-2在7d时表达明显,之后逐渐下降,Egr-1decoy ODNs能抑制MMP-2的表达,从而减轻血管损伤后内膜的增生。     

早期生长反应因子-1的特异脱氧核酶对球囊损伤大鼠颈动脉后转化生长因子-β1表达的影响

目的观察局部转染早期生长反应因子-1(Egr-1)的特异脱氧核酶(ED5)对球囊损伤颈总动脉后内膜增生及转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)表达的影响,并初步探讨ED5抑制球囊损伤后内膜增生的机制。方法96只健康雄性Wistar大鼠,随机分为4组,每组24只。除假手术组外均应用2F球囊导管行颈总动脉内膜球囊损伤术,术中采用转染试剂FuGENE6介导ED5转染至损伤后大鼠血管中,以假手术组、单纯损伤组,FuGENE6组作为对照。术后3、7、14、21d处死动物每组6只。应用HE染色,RT-PCR,Western-blot和免疫组织化学方法观察大鼠颈动脉球囊损伤后内膜增生情况和TGF-β1的表达及ED5对它们的影响。结果(1)内皮损伤后3d内膜增厚不明显,7d内膜开始增厚,14、21d时内膜明显增厚。(2)TGF-β1mRNA于术后3d开始升高,7d达高峰,14d时下降。TGF-β1蛋白表达于术后3d开始升高,14d达高峰。(3)转染ED5治疗后,在各个时间点内膜增厚程度减轻,TGF-β1表达减少,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0·01)。结论血管内皮损伤后内膜增生过程中TGF-β1表达增加,ED5能抑制TGF-β1的表达,从而减轻血管损伤后内膜的增生。     

旋覆花素抑制血管内皮剥脱诱导的粘附分子表达

目的观察旋覆花素对内皮剥脱诱导的新生内膜形成过程中血管壁粘附分子OPN、ICAM-1、ILK表达的影响,为寻找该药物抑制新生内膜形成的作用靶标提供实验依据。方法采用主动脉球囊损伤后血管狭窄动物模型,用免疫组织化学和Western Blot方法分别检测血管壁中骨桥蛋白(osteopontin,OPN)、细胞间粘附分子-1(intercellular adhesion molecule-1,ICAM-1)、整合素偶联激酶(integrin-linked kinase,ILK)的表达变化及旋覆花素对其的影响。结果血管内皮剥脱可诱导血管壁平滑肌细胞大量增生,新生内膜呈弥漫性增厚,血管损伤局部组织中OPN、ICAM-1、ILK的表达均比正常对照组明显升高(P<0.05)。旋覆花素治疗组在球囊损伤后,血管内膜增生程度显著减轻,血管壁OPN、ICAM-1、ILK的表达均比模型组明显降低(P<0.05)。结论旋覆花素减缓新生内膜形成的效应与其抑制粘附分子的表达、阻断粘附分子信号传递有关。     

沉默单核细胞趋化蛋白-1基因降低人食管癌EC109细胞的迁移及侵袭能力

单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,MCP-1)是白色脂肪细胞分泌的炎症趋化刺激因子,属于趋化因子CC亚族,可促进肿瘤血管形成和细胞外基质降解,从而促进肿瘤细胞的浸润与转移。沉默MCP-1基因可显著抑制恶性肿瘤生长及转移,但其作用的分子机制尚不完全清楚。本研究应用小干扰RNA技术沉默人食管癌EC109细胞中MCP-1表达。细胞划痕试验显示,与对照组相比,沉默MCP-1基因可明显抑制食管癌EC109细胞迁移能力。Transwell 侵袭实验显示,沉默MCP-1基因后,EC109细胞侵袭能力降低。Western 印迹试验和RT-PCR试验揭示,沉默MCP-1基因后,细胞中MMP-7、MMP-9、TGF-β1及VEGF表达水平显著下降。研究结果提示,沉默MCP-1基因可通过抑制MMP-7、MMP-9、TGF-β1及VEGF表达,降低癌细胞迁移及侵袭能力。     

Egr-1的特异性脱氧核酶对大鼠颈总动脉损伤后内膜增生的影响

目的 探讨早期生长反应因子-1(Egr-1)的特异性脱氧核酶对大鼠颈总动脉损伤后新生内膜形成的影响。方法 对Wistar大鼠行颈总动脉损伤后,在转染试剂Fugene6介导下经血管腔内转染Egr-1的特异性脱氧核酶(ED5),以假手术组、单纯损伤组及空白转染试剂组(Fu gene 6组)作为对照,于术后3、7、14和21d4个时间点取材,检测内膜增生程度及增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)、转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)和Egr-1的表达变化。结果单纯损伤组及Fugene6组7d时可见内膜增生,14d、21d时内膜增厚更明显,PCNA及TGF-β于损伤后3天明显表达,7d时在新生内膜及中膜中表达达到高峰,14d后逐渐下降,而Egr-1呈持续高表达。经ED6作用后,内膜增生减轻,动脉中PCNA、TGF-β及Egr-1表达明显降低,与单纯损伤组和Fu Gnene 6组比较差异有显性。结论结果提示ED5可能是通过特异性抑制其相应基因的表达来阻遏动脉损伤后的内膜增生。     

旋覆花素抑制血管内皮损伤诱导的基质重构酶表达与活化

目的：观察旋覆花素对大鼠血管球囊损伤后内膜增生和基质金属蛋白酶-2（MMP-2）及组织金属蛋白酶抑制剂-2（TIMP-2）表达的影响,探讨旋覆花素防治血管再狭窄的可能作用和机制。方法：用球囊内皮剥脱法复制血管内膜增生模型 通过HE染色观察血管壁形态学变化 明胶酶图分析MMP-2的活性改变 Western blot和免疫组织化学检测MMP-2和TIMP-2的表达变化。结果：旋覆花素显著减轻血管损伤后内膜增生,抑制MMP-2的蛋白水解活性,降低MMP-2和TIMP-2的表达以及MMP-2/TIMP-2比值,并使其接近正常水平。结论：旋覆花素对球囊血管损伤后内膜增生的抑制作用与其对MMP-2/TIMP-2系统平衡调节有关。     

C-myc反义RNA抑制血管平滑肌细胞增生的实验研究

观察血管内膜损伤后C－myc反义RNA在抑制血管平滑肌细胞的增生、迁移及防止动脉粥样硬化形成和血管再狭窄中的作用。选雄性日本大白兔36只,经球囊造成腹主动脉内膜损伤的同时,局部给予C－myc反义RNA、正义RNA及盐水,高胆固醇喂养12周处死,测量内膜厚度,计数增生细胞核抗原PCNA阳生细胞数。结果显示：盐水及正义对照组内膜明显增厚（317μm）,PCNA核阳性细胞数明显增多（63％）,可见明显的粥样斑块灶形成,而反义RNA治疗组内膜增厚仅为217μm,PCNA阳性细胞为30.5%,明显低于对照组,P＜0.01。结果表明：C－myc反义RNA具有显抑制VSMC增生,减轻粥样斑块形成的作用。     

辛伐他汀对IFN-γ 诱导的人外周血单个核细胞OX40L 表达的影响

目的:探讨经IFN-γ刺激后,人外周血单个核细胞OX40L表达的变化,以及辛伐他汀对单个核细胞OX40L表达的影响.方法:将实验标本随机分为2组,分别干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)刺激组、辛伐他汀干预组.应用RT-PCR及Western blotting技术,观察IFN-γ诱导的人外周血单个核细胞OX40L表达情况及辛伐他汀对人单个核细胞OX40L表达的影响.结果:1.1000U/mlIFN-与人单个核细胞共同培养24h后,OX40L mRNA和蛋白水平的表达明显增加.2.预先给予10 mol/L的辛伐他汀干预1h可以明显降低IFN-诱导的OX40L表达.结论:IFN-可诱导人单个核细胞OX40L表达.辛伐他汀可以抑制IFN-诱导人单个核细胞OX40L表达的增强,从而可能抑制了OX40L信号通路介导的与炎症有关的血管损伤,延缓动脉粥样硬化的进程.     

FAS在子宫内膜样腺癌及其癌前病变中的表达及意义

目的研究脂肪酸合成酶(Fatty acid synthase FAS)在子宫内膜样腺癌及其癌前病变中的表达以及与临床病理意义。方法 37例子宫内膜样腺癌、21例子宫内膜非典型增生、23例子宫内膜复杂性增生、17例子宫内膜单纯性增生及11例增生期子宫内膜中FAS的表达情况,结合临床病理参数并进行统计学分析。结果 FAS在子宫内膜样腺癌、子宫内膜非典型增生、子宫内膜复杂性增生、子宫内膜单纯性增生及增生期子宫内膜中均有表达,其阳性表达率依次为81.1%、57.1%、56.5%、52.9%、45.5%。子宫内膜样腺癌中FAS的阳性表达率明显高于增生期子宫内膜、子宫内膜单纯性增生、子宫内膜复杂性增生及子宫内膜非典型增生(P<0.05)。FAS的阳性表达率在浸润深度≥1/2肌层的子宫内膜样腺癌明显高于浸润深度<1/2肌层者(P<0.05)。FAS的表达与年龄及组织学分级无显著差异性(P>0.05)。在子宫内膜样腺癌中FAS的表达与ER有关(P<0.05)结论本研究提示FAS的表达可能与子宫内膜样腺癌的发生、发展有关。FAS可以作为提示子宫内膜样腺癌预后的一个新的参考指标。部分ER阳性的子宫内膜样腺癌的发生、发展可能与FA...     

Transforming Growth Factor-�� Promotes Recruitment of Bone Marrow Cells and Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells through Stimulation of MCP-1 Production in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Bone marrow-derived progenitor cells have recently been shown to be involved in the development of intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has profound stimulatory effects on intimal hyperplasia, but it is unknown whether these effects involve progenitor cell recruitment. In this study we found that although TGF-β had no direct effect on progenitor cell recruitment, conditioned media derived from vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated with TGF-β induced migration of both total bone marrow (BM) cells and BM-mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and also induced MSC differentiation into smooth muscle like cells. Furthermore, overexpression of the signaling molecule Smad3 in VSMC via adenovirus-mediated gene transfer (AdSmad3) enhanced the TGF-β''s chemotactic effect. Microarray analysis of VSMC stimulated by TGF-β/AdSmad3 revealed monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) as a likely factor responsible for progenitor cell recruitment. We then demonstrated that TGF-β through Smad3 phosphorylation induced a robust expression of MCP-1 in VSMC. Recombinant MCP-1 mimicked the stimulatory effect of conditioned media on BM and MSC migration. In the rat carotid injury model, Smad3 overexpression significantly increased MCP-1 expression after vascular injury, consistent with our in vitro results. Interestingly, TGF-β/Smad3-induced MCP-1 was completely blocked by both Ro-32-0432 and rotterlin, suggesting protein kinase C-δ (PKCδ) may play a role in TGF-β/Smad3-induced MCP-1 expression. In summary, our data demonstrate that TGF-β, through Smad3 and PKCδ, stimulates VSMC production of MCP-1, which is a chemoattractant for bone marrow-derived cells, specifically MSC. Manipulation of this signaling system may provide a novel approach to inhibition of intimal hyperplasia.     

MCP-1 deficiency is associated with reduced intimal hyperplasia after arterial injury

Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 is abundant in smooth muscle cells (SMC) and macrophages of atherosclerotic plaques and in the injured arterial wall. MCP-1 and its receptor, CCR2, are important mediators of macrophage accumulation and atherosclerotic plaque progression. We have recently reported that CCR2(-/-) mice have a approximately 60% decrease in intimal hyperplasia and medial DNA synthesis in response to femoral arterial injury. We have now examined the response to femoral arterial injury in MCP-1(-/-) mice. MCP-1 deficiency was associated with a approximately 30% reduction in intimal hyperplasia at 4 weeks and was not associated with diminished medial DNA synthesis. Despite inducing tissue factor in SMC culture, MCP-1 deficiency was not associated with a decrease in neointimal tissue factor after injury. These data suggest that MCP-1 and CCR2 deficiencies have distinct effects on arterial injury. The effects of MCP-1 on intimal hyperplasia may be mediated largely through SMC migration.     

RECK基因在兔颈动脉壁损伤后再狭窄过程中的表达

目的:通过建立动物损伤模型,分析RECK基因在兔子颈动脉球囊损伤术后的表达与动脉内膜变化和官腔狭窄的相关性。方法:兔子手术损伤侧的动脉血管设置为实验组,未进行手术操作的一侧动脉作为对照组。建立动脉模型的四个时间点7、14、21、28 d,在麻醉状态下处死模型动物。取得所需长度的损伤动脉血管及对照组动脉血管。将取得的标本进行HE病理染色,通过计算机图像计算软件观察标本动脉内膜随时间的变化;同时通过western-blot方法测定RECK蛋白表达水平、real-time PCR测量RECK基因表达量。结果:血管手术损伤后,血管内膜面积在随着术后日期的增长呈逐渐增厚变化,血管内膜与中层比值逐渐增大,同对照实验组比较,有统计学意义(P0.05)。实验组及对照组的中膜无显著增生。结论:RECK基因在组织中表达变化影响MMPs基因表达。实验论证了在动脉损伤后RECK基因参与了血管再狭窄,为血管再狭窄研究寻得新的研究方向。     

Cilostazol attenuates MCP-1 and MMP-9 expression in vivo in LPS-administrated balloon-injured rabbit aorta and in vitro in LPS-treated monocytic THP-1 cells

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are involved in vascular inflammation. We tested the hypothesis, and explored the underlining mechanisms that cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor with antiplatelet and antithrombotic properties, inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced MCP-1 and MMP-9 expression. In a rabbit aorta balloon-injury model, administration of LPS increased macrophage infiltration and MCP-1 and MMP-9 expression; cilostazol supplementation prevented this phenomenon and reduced intimal hyperplasia. In contrast, the reverse zymography showed that cilostazol did not affect TIMP-1 expression in serum. In monocytic THP-1 cells, cilostazol and N6,O2'-dibutyryl-cAMP (dioctanoyl-cAMP, a cAMP analog) dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced MCP-1 protein expression and MMP-9 activation, but did not affect the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that cilostazol inhibited MCP-1 and MMP-9 mRNA expression. Cilostazol significantly inhibited LPS-induced activation of p38, JNK, and nuclear factor-kappaB, and the respective inhibitors of p38 and JNK greatly reduced the level of LPS-induced MCP-1 and MMP-9, suggesting the involvement of the p38 and JNK pathways. In conclusion, cilostazol administered with LPS in vivo reduced neointimal hyperplasia and macrophage infiltration in the balloon-injured rabbit aorta; in vitro, cilostazol inhibits LPS-induced MCP-1 and MMP-9 expression. These data suggest that cilostazol may play an important role in preventing endotoxin- and injured-mediated vascular inflammation.     

Involvement of altered arginase activity, arginase I expression and NO production in accelerated intimal hyperplasia following cigarette smoke extract

In the present experiments, we tried to elucidate whether changes in arginase activity, protein expression of arginase-I and -II, and NO production are involved in accelerating the intimal hyperplasia following administration of cigarette smoke extract (CSE). The intimal hyperplasia was caused by removing endothelial cells with the aid of balloon embolectomy catheter in the right carotid artery of the male rabbit. The left carotid artery underwent sham operation and served as control. CSE was prepared by bubbling a stream of cigarette smoke into phosphate buffered saline. Rabbits were given subcutaneously with CSE once a day for 5 weeks from 1 week before to 4 weeks after the surgery. The specimens were assessed histologically and the intima/media ratio (%) was evaluated as an index of the intimal hyperplasia. The accelerated intimal hyperplasia with CSE was accompanied by the augmentation of the impaired cyclic GMP production, enhanced overall arginase activity and up-regulation of arginase-I. Pearson's correlation coefficient analyses revealed the close relationships among the arginase activities in endothelial cells and smooth muscle layer, the intimal/media ratio and cyclic GMP production. These results suggest that the enhanced arginase activity together with facilitated up-regulation of arginase-I with CSE, which was associated with the augmented impairment of NO production, shed a new light on the processes associated with accelerating the intimal hyperplasia in rabbit carotid arteries following CSE.     

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.     

The role of intimal hyperplasia in arterial spasm.

It has been postulated that even moderate spasm in an artery with intimal hyperplasia can produce organ hypoxia because there is an excessive reduction in the diameter of the lumen. To test this hypothesis we created intimal hyperplasia in one femoral artery in five pigs and then induced arterial spasm by administering ergonovine maleate. Arterial spasm did not produce a greater reduction in the luminal diameter of the femoral artery with intimal hyperplasia than it did in the normal femoral artery. Until further evidence appears this hypothesis must be viewed with caution.     

Attenuation of tissue P-selectin and MCP-1 expression and intimal proliferation by AT(1) receptor blockade in hyperlipidemic rabbits

Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) participates in the development and progression of atherosclerosis by activating type 1 (AT(1)) receptors. In vitro studies show that inflammatory factors, such as P-selectin and MCP-1, which can be upregulated by Ang-II, play an important role in atherogenesis. We examined the effect of AT(1) receptor blockade with losartan on the expression of P-selectin and MCP-1 in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Since AT(1) receptor blockade is associated with feedback upregulation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), we also examined alterations in plasma Ang-II levels by losartan therapy. Male NZW rabbits were fed regular chow (high cholesterol diet or high cholesterol diet + losartan 25 mg/kg/day). As expected, there was a marked intimal proliferation in association with increase in serum cholesterol (P < 0.001). In addition, there was a modest increase in plasma Ang-II levels (P < 0.05), and a significant increase in the expression of AT(1) receptors, P-selectin and MCP-1 in aortas of high cholesterol diet rabbits. Concurrent administration of losartan with high cholesterol diet attenuated aortic intimal proliferation induced a fivefold increase in plasma Ang-II levels and caused a marked decrease in expression of P-selectin and MCP-1 without change in serum lipid levels and aortic AT(1) receptor expression. These observations in hypercholesterolemic animal models show that AT(1) receptor blockade is associated with modulation of P-selectin and MCP-1 expression concurrent with reduction in intimal proliferation. The rise in plasma Ang-II does not appear to limit the potential beneficial effect of losartan.     

Nanoparticle-Mediated Local Delivery of an Antisense TGF-β1 Construct Inhibits Intimal Hyperplasia in Autogenous Vein Grafts in Rats

Background

Intimal hyperplasia is one of the most important causes of vascular graft failure. Numerous studies have correlated transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) with extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, a hallmark of intimal thickening.

Principal Findings

In the present study, we performed immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot to examine the dynamic expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 receptor type I (TGF-β RI), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) during intimal hyperplasia in grafted veins of a rat model generated by grafting a portion of the right internal jugular vein to the ipisiliary caroid artery. Additionally, we determined whether nanoparticle-mediated delivery of a TGF-β1 antisense-expressing construct prevented TGF-β1 expression and intimal hyperplasia in grafted veins. In grafted veins, the expression of TGF-β1 significantly increased on day 3 after transplantation, peaked on day 7, slightly decreased on day 14, and returned to baseline levels on day 28. The positive expression of TGF-β RI in grafted veins remarkably increased on day 7, peaked on day 14, and decreased thereafter. MMP-1 expression decreased significantly, while TIMP-1 expression increased, significantly on days 14 and 28. Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of a TGF-β1 antisense-expressing construct down-regulated TGF-β1 expression and inhibited intimal hyperplasia in grafted veins.

Conclusions

Our findings provide further evidence that TGF-β1 plays an integral role in the development of intimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of a TGF-β1 antisense-expressing construct is a feasible strategy to target TGF-β1-induced intimal thickening.