Inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo by c-myc antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.

Restenosis after angioplasty is due predominantly to accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The resistance of restenosis to pharmacological treatment has prompted investigation of genes involved in VSMC proliferation. We have examined the effect on VSMC proliferation of blocking expression of the c-myc proto-oncogene with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, both in vitro and in a rat carotid artery injury model of angioplasty restenosis. Antisense c-myc oligodeoxynucleotides reduced average cell levels of c-myc mRNA and protein by 50-55% and inhibited proliferation of VSMCs when mitogenically stimulated from quiescence or when proliferating logarithmically (IC50 = 10 micrograms/ml). Corresponding sense c-myc, two-base-pair mismatch antisense c-myc, antisense alpha-actin or glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase oligodeoxynucleotides did not suppress c-myc expression or inhibit VSMC proliferation. Antisense c-myc inhibition was relieved by overexpression of an exogenous c-myc gene. After balloon catheter injury, peak c-myc mRNA expression occurred at 2 h. Antisense c-myc applied in a pluronic gel to the arterial adventitia reduced peak c-myc expression by 75% and significantly reduced neointimal formation at 14 d, compared with sense c-myc and gel application alone. We conclude that c-myc expression is required for VSMC proliferation in vitro and in the vessel wall. C-myc is a therefore a potential target for adjunctive therapy to reduce angioplasty restenosis.     

Role of cholesterol-accumulating macrophages on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) was stimulated by co-incubation with macrophages. Further stimulation was observed when co-incubated macrophages were supplied with LDL or cholesterol. However, the stimulation of VSMC proliferation did not result from co-incubation with macrophages supplemented with acetylated LDL or delipidated LDL. The addition of anti-PDGF antibody partially abolished the stimulation of VSMC proliferation induced by co-incubation with macrophages supplemented with LDL or cholesterol. A high concentration of prostaglandin E2 inhibited the proliferation of VSMC stimulated by PDGF and plasma-derived serum when they were at the G0/G1 stage. However, the inhibitory effect of prostaglandin E2 on proliferation was not observed when cells were incubated with macrophages supplemented with LDL or cholesterol in spite of the promotion under these conditions of prostaglandin E2 production. These results suggest that cholesterol-accumulating macrophages may exert a regulatory effect on the proliferation of VSMC through the synthesis and secretion of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and prostaglandin E2, besides foam-cell formation.     

Intrinsic factors involved in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in hypertension.

The exaggerated response to growth factors of vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats when compared to cells from normotensive control Wistar-Kyoto rats persists in culture, indicating an intrinsic/genetic defect. The time course of 3H-thymidine incorporation shows that synchronized vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats start to synthesize new DNA earlier after mitogenic stimulation than cells from normotensive rats. Flow cytometry demonstrates that in cell populations growing in 10% calf serum for three d there is a higher proportion of cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats in the S phase of the cell cycle. The same proportions in the G2 + M phase of growing, as well as synchronized cells from normotensive and hypertensive rats indicate no difference in polyploidy. Forward light scatter analysis reveals no difference in cell size. These results suggest that the growth kinetic of vascular smooth muscle cells from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats are different. Since the defect seems to be in the prereplicative phase of the cell cycle susceptible to regulation by extrinsic factors, we studied the effect of the calmodulin inhibitor, W-7, on DNA synthesis. The comparable IC50 of W-7 to inhibit cell growth of vascular smooth muscle cells of both origins indicates that the defect may not be due only to calmodulin, and furthermore suggests the involvement of a previously-reported calmodulin activator in hypertension.     

Inhibition of human vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by lovastatin: the role of isoprenoid intermediates of cholesterol synthesis

Abstract Restenosis remains the largest single obstacle to the long-term success of invasive vascular interventions. Lovastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has been shown to reduce myointimal hyperplasia in animal models of restenosis and in one clinical coronary restenosis trial. We have assessed the effect of lovastatin on the growth of cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells derived from saphenous vein and vascular graft stenoses. Lovastatin (2 μM) inhibited proliferation over 14 days in saphenous vein (and graft stenoses) derived vascular smooth muscle cells by 42% and 32%, respectively: this was not significantly different. Lovastatin (10 μM) reduced [methyl 3H]-thymidine uptake by 51% in saphenous vein-derived cells. These concentrations were significantly higher than those achieved in plasma during therapeutic dosage. Lovastatin-induced inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and [methyl ³H]-thymidine uptake was completely reversed by adding mevalonate (100 μM) but cholesterol (10–40 μl^-1) had no effect. Isopentenyl adenine (25–50 μM) did not affect the inhibition of [methyl ³H]-thymidine uptake by lovastatin (10 μM), but farnesol (20 μM), another isoprenoid precursor of cholesterol synthesis, reversed the antiproliferative effect.     

内皮素-1促进人脐动脉平滑肌细胞增殖

目的:探讨内皮素-1与血管平滑肌细胞增殖的关系.方法:用噻唑蓝比色法观察内皮素-1对血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响,流式细胞仪法观察对血管平滑肌细胞增殖周期的影响.结果:与对照组比较,内皮素-1明显促进血管平滑肌细胞增殖;促进平滑肌细胞DNA合成;促进平滑肌细胞从G0期向S期的转变,G0/G1期细胞百分比明显降低,而S期细胞百分比增加.结论:内皮素-1对血管平滑肌细胞增殖有明显的促进作用.     

Inhibition of rat vascular smooth muscle proliferation in vitro and in vivo by bone morphogenetic protein-2.

Vascular proliferative disorders are characterized by the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and excessive extracellular matrix synthesis. We found that bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) inhibited serum-stimulated increases in DNA synthesis and cell number of cultured rat arterial SMCs in a fashion quite different from that in the case of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). In addition, TGF-beta1 stimulated collagen synthesis in SMCs, whereas BMP-2 did not. In an in vivo rat carotid artery balloon injury model, the adenovirus-mediated transfer of the BMP-2 gene inhibited injury-induced intimal hyperplasia. These results indicate that BMP-2 has the ability to inhibit SMC proliferation without stimulating extracellular matrix synthesis, and suggest the possibility of therapeutic application of BMP-2 for the prevention of vascular proliferative disorders.     

Rapamycin inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell migration.

Abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration contribute to the development of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and accelerated arteriopathy after cardiac transplantation. Previously, we reported that the macrolide antibiotic rapamycin, but not the related compound FK506, inhibits both human and rat aortic SMC proliferation in vitro by inhibiting cell cycle-dependent kinases and delaying phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Marx, S.O., T. Jayaraman, L.O. Go, and A.R. Marks. 1995. Circ. Res. 362:801). In the present study the effects of rapamycin on SMC migration were assayed in vitro using a modified Boyden chamber and in vivo using a porcine aortic SMC explant model. Pretreatment with rapamycin (2 ng/ml) for 48 h inhibited PDGF-induced migration (PDGF BB homodimer; 20 ng/ml) in cultured rat and human SMC (n = 10; P < 0.0001), whereas FK506 had no significant effect on migration. Rapamycin administered orally (1 mg/kg per d for 7 d) significantly inhibited porcine aortic SMC migration compared with control (n = 15; P < 0.0001). Thus, in addition to being a potent immunosuppressant and antiproliferative, rapamycin also inhibits SMC migration.     

Synergy between thrombin and serotonin in inducing vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation

Previous studies have indicated that apart from playing an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis, thrombin may also contribute to the development of postangioplasty restenosis caused by the stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. Because thrombin generation in vivo is accompanied by platelet activation and release of smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth factors such as serotonin, we examined the possible interaction between these two compounds on VSMC proliferation. Thrombin (0.01 to 100 nmol/L), thrombin receptor-activating peptide (0.1 to 1000 micromol/L), and serotonin (5HT; 0.1 to 1000 micromol/L) increased tritiated thymidine incorporation into the DNA of canine aortic VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner. When thrombin and 5HT were added together at sub-threshold concentrations, they acted synergistically in inducing tritiated thymidine incorporation. These findings were paralleled by a 90%+/-5% increase in the cell number at 48 hours, as compared with a 37%+/-2% increase with 50 micromol/L serotonin and a 13%+/-3% increase with 0.1 nmol/L thrombin. We also demonstrated that a brief exposure to thrombin (1 hour) is sufficient to show its potentiating effect on serotonin. The mitogenic effect of serotonin and its synergistic interaction with thrombin on VSMC proliferation was abolished by serotonin type 2 receptor antagonist LY281067. Similarly, gamma-hirudin--a direct thrombin inhibitor--blocked the mitogenic effect of thrombin and its synergistic interaction with serotonin. When LY281067 and gamma-hirudin were used together, they abolished the mitogenic effects of both the agonists. Because clot-bound active thrombin can escape inactivation by anti-thrombin, this thrombin may potentiate the mitogenic effect of serotonin and keep the SMCs in a proliferative state for a long period of time. These findings support the use of 5HT2 receptor antagonists in combination with thrombin inhibitors in the prevention of SMC proliferation after coronary angioplasty.     

L-Citrulline, the by-product of nitric oxide synthesis, decreases vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Endothelium injury plays an important role in atherosclerosis. Damage to the endothelium results in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Natriuretic peptides present a potent antimitogenic action, mediating their biological effects via the binding of guanylate cyclase-linked atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor and the production of cyclic GMP. In a previous study, we demonstrated that L-citrulline, the by-product of nitric oxide synthesis, could relax rabbit aortic rings by stimulating the guanylate cyclase-linked ANP receptor. In this work, we investigated the effect of L-citrulline on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. L-Citrulline (10(-8) M) significantly decreased rat aortic (A10 cell line) vascular smooth muscle proliferation. The percentage of inhibition exerted by L-citrulline on days 3, 5, and 7 of the proliferation curve was 20.0 +/- 0.5%, 37.5 +/- 8.3%, and 28. 5 +/- 7.2%, respectively. In addition, L-citrulline also inhibited serum-induced DNA synthesis, measured as 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation. 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation into nuclei of vehicle-treated cells was 40.5 +/- 2.4%, whereas in L-citrulline-treated cells the percentage decreased to 36.0 +/- 4.1%, 29.1 +/- 2.0% (P <.01, n = 4), 30.5 +/- 2.4% (P <.05, n = 4), and 23.1 +/- 0.5% (P <.001, n = 4) for 10(-10), 10(-9), 10(-8), and 10(-7) M, respectively. Zaprinast, a phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor, enhanced 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation in serum-stimulated cells. Moreover, L-citrulline inhibition of serum-stimulated DNA synthesis was abolished by HS-142-1 (10(-5) M), an ANP receptor antagonist. In another group of experiments, L-citrulline was shown to increase intracellular cyclic GMP levels from 2.1 +/- 0.2 pmol of cGMP/mg protein to 4.1 +/- 0.1 for L-citrulline (10(-8) M) (P <.001, n = 3). These findings suggest that L-citrulline decreases vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in the A10 cell line by acting on DNA synthesis by mechanisms that involve the ANP receptor.     

蜂胶水提液影响血管紧张素Ⅱ促血管平滑肌细胞增殖的作用

目的:观察蜂胶水提液对血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的人脐动脉平滑肌细胞增殖作用的影响。方法:实验于2005-03/2006-04在泰山医学院基础医学研究所完成。组织块法培养人脐动脉平滑肌细胞,取3～5代细胞进行实验。将培养的人脐动脉平滑肌细胞随机分为4组:①对照组:不加任何药物。②模型组:加入100nmol/L的血管紧张素Ⅱ。③蜂胶组:分别加入50mg/L、100mg/L、200mg/L的蜂胶水提液预处理2h后,再加入终浓度为100nmol/L的血管紧张素Ⅱ。④氯沙坦组:加入1.5μmol/L的氯沙坦预处理2h后,再加入终浓度为100nmol/L的血管紧张素Ⅱ。同步化后,按分组分别加入处理药物孵育24h,倒置显微镜下动态观察细胞形态学的变化,同时计数细胞存活率,并用血细胞计数板计数各组细胞。采用流式细胞仪检测细胞周期,并分析细胞不同周期所占比例。采用免疫细胞化学检测增殖细胞核抗原。计算增殖细胞核抗原阳性细胞百分率。增殖细胞核抗原阳性细胞百分率(%)=增殖细胞核抗原阳性细胞总数/血管平滑肌细胞总数×100%。结果:①相差倒置显微镜下观察各组细胞加药前后形态学无明显变化,细胞存活率均达95.0%以上。②模型组细胞计数高于对照组和氯沙坦组(P<0.01),100mg/L和200mg/L蜂胶组低于模型组(P<0.01);50mg/L和100mg/L蜂胶组高于氯沙坦组(P<0.01),200mg/L蜂胶组与氯沙坦组差异无显著性(P>0.05)。③模型组G0/Gl期细胞百分比低于对照组、氯沙坦组(P<0.01);100mg/L和200mg/L蜂胶组高于模型组(P<0.01);50mg/L蜂胶组低于氯沙坦组(P<0.05),100mg/L、200mg/L蜂胶组与氯沙坦组差异显著性(P>0.05)。④模型组增殖细胞核抗原阳性率高于对照组、氯沙坦组(P<0.01);100mg/L和200mg/L蜂胶组低于模型组(P<0.01),蜂胶各浓度组与氯沙坦组间差异无显著性意义。结论:血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导血管平滑肌细胞的增殖,氯沙坦能阻滞该作用;一定浓度的蜂胶水提液可抑制血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的血管平滑肌细胞的增殖,其机制可能与限制细胞由G1期向S期转变及增殖细胞核抗原的表达有关。     

血管内皮损伤后血管平滑肌细胞增殖的机制

目的 探讨血管内皮损伤后血管平滑肌细胞增殖的机制。方法 建立颈动脉血管内皮损伤的大鼠模型，行光镜和电镜观察；采用免疫组织化学法检测增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）、Ⅰ型胶原和Ⅳ型胶原；采用原位杂交法检测成纤维细胞生长因子（FGF）、血小板源生长因子（PDGF）、Bcl-2、Bax和c-myc的表达并行TUNEL染色。结果 内皮损伤后血管管腔面积减少，平滑肌细胞（VSMC）增殖并呈激活状态细胞凋亡减少。PCNA、Ⅰ型胶原、Ⅳ胶原、PDGF、FGF、Bcl-2和c-myc的表达增高。而Bax表达降低。结论 血管内皮损伤后血管平滑肌细胞的迁移、增殖、凋亡及细胞外基质的分泌和堆积，受到多种细胞因子、生长因子和基因调控的介导，参与了局部血管重建和再塑过程。     

信号转导分子smad4基因表达抑制体外培养人血管平滑肌细胞的增殖

目的:探讨细胞内转化生长因子β信号通路中信号转导分子Smad4与平滑肌细胞的增殖关系。方法:实验于2003-08/10在哈尔滨医科大学医学遗传学研究室完成。①取体质量200g左右的健康雄性SD大鼠,常规胶原酶消化法原代培养大鼠血管平滑肌细胞。用体积分数为0.2和0.05(去血清培养)胎牛血清和的Dulbecco改良的Eagle培养基,37℃,体积分数0.05CO2进行培养,2.5g/L胰酶消化传代。血管平滑肌细胞经锥虫蓝染色,存活细胞数在98%以上。形态学上出现典型的“峰和谷”样生长状态,抗平滑肌特异α-肌动蛋白免疫组织化学染色阳性。取3～8代细胞用于实验。②观察项目:转染前后细胞增殖能力和细胞凋亡能力的检测应用流式细胞分析仪和脱氧核糖核酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法凋亡检测试剂盒完成。smad4的表达及部分与细胞周期调控相关基因(p16、细胞周期调控激酶4和细胞周期因子E)和细胞凋亡基因(半胱天冬酶2和半胱天冬酶3)表达变化应用免疫印迹法和荧光免疫组化方法检测。结果:①转染前后细胞增殖能力和细胞凋亡能力流式细胞分析仪和脱氧核糖核酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法测定结果:smad4基因过表达调控人血管平滑肌细胞增殖能力下降DNA合成前期细胞明显增加[(72.33±4.35)%],正常培养细胞DNA合成前期细胞数相对较少[(45.88±1.58)%]。②smad4的表达及部分与细胞周期调控相关基因免疫印迹法和荧光免疫组化方法检测结果:转染后细胞凋亡能力增加;细胞周期抑制基因p16表达增加,细胞周期调控激酶4和细胞周期因子E表达下降,凋亡相关基因半胱天冬酶2和半胱天冬酶3表达增加。结论:smad4基因对血管平滑肌细胞增殖能力的抑制作用主要通过抑制细胞增殖和诱导细胞凋亡的发生而实现。转化生长因子β信号传导通路对血管平滑肌细胞增殖的抑制作用除了能够有效阻滞细胞周期的演进外,还能够诱导细胞凋亡。     

apelin-13下调caveolae可促进血管平滑肌细胞增殖

背景：结合课题组以往研究成果,提出caveolae可能参与apelin-13促血管平滑肌细胞增殖的假设。目的：实验观察细胞膜特殊凹陷结构caveolae参与G蛋白偶联受体APJ的内源性配体apelin-13促进大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖的作用。方法：采用组织贴块法培养大鼠胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞,用MTT方法观察血管平滑肌细胞增殖,Western Blotting方法观察信号蛋白表达,免疫共沉淀技术检测信号分子复合物的形成。结果与结论：①caveolae结构破坏剂β-环糊精（5mmol/L,25h）可明显增强apelin-13诱导的血管平滑肌细胞增殖。②apelin-13（0,1,2,4,8μmol/L）刺激血管平滑肌细胞,caveolin-1的表达下调,在1μmol/L时下调明显。③β-环糊精（5mmol/L）破坏caveolae后,可使apelin-13下调caveolin-1表达的作用增强。④对照组（体积分数为0.1%胎牛血清孵育）及处理组（apelin-13刺激）caveolin-1与PI3K及ERK1/2均有复合物形成,在apelin-13刺激的情况caveolin-1-PI3K复合物减少、caveolin-1-ERK1/2复合物减少,即apelin-13可能促进caveolin-1与PI3K及ERK1/2解离。结果提示细胞膜特殊凹陷结构caveolae参与apelin-13促血管平滑肌细胞增殖作用。     

apelin-13下调caveolae可促进血管平滑肌细胞增殖

背景:结合课题组以往研究成果,提出caveolae可能参与apelin-13促血管平滑肌细胞增殖的假设。目的:实验观察细胞膜特殊凹陷结构caveolae参与G蛋白偶联受体APJ的内源性配体apelin-13促进大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖的作用。方法:采用组织贴块法培养大鼠胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞,用MTT方法观察血管平滑肌细胞增殖,Western Blotting方法观察信号蛋白表达,免疫共沉淀技术检测信号分子复合物的形成。结果与结论:①caveolae结构破坏剂β-环糊精(5mmol/L,25h)可明显增强apelin-13诱导的血管平滑肌细胞增殖。②apelin-13(0,1,2,4,8μmol/L)刺激血管平滑肌细胞,caveolin-1的表达下调,在1μmol/L时下调明显。③β-环糊精(5mmol/L)破坏caveolae后,可使apelin-13下调caveolin-1表达的作用增强。④对照组(体积分数为0.1%胎牛血清孵育)及处理组(apelin-13刺激)caveolin-1与PI3K及ERK1/2均有复合物形成,在apelin-13刺激的情况caveolin-1-PI3K复合物减少、caveolin-1-ERK1/2复合物减少,即apelin-13可能促进caveolin-1与PI3K及ERK1/2解离。结果提示细胞膜特殊凹陷结构caveolae参与apelin-13促血管平滑肌细胞增殖作用。     

Inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation in injured rat arteries. Interaction of heparin with basic fibroblast growth factor.

Heparin inhibits smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation after arterial injury by mechanisms that have yet to be defined. Since the initiation of SMC proliferation is mediated by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), we have investigated the possibility that heparin inhibits SMC proliferation by displacing bFGF from the arterial wall. Using a rat carotid artery model of balloon catheter injury, we demonstrate that a bolus injection of heparin depletes the arterial wall of both systemically administered bFGF and of endogenous bFGF. Heparin, however, does not reduce the bFGF content of unmanipulated arteries. Further, a single injection of heparin given at the time of balloon injury reduces SMC proliferation by 55% but has no effect when given 6 h after injury. SMC proliferation induced in a denuded artery by injection of bFGF is inhibited almost completely by a bolus injection of heparin; however, pretreatment with a bolus of heparin does not prevent SMC from responding to a subsequent bolus of bFGF. These experiments suggest that heparin can inhibit SMC proliferation in part by removal of released bFGF from sites of injury.     

干扰素-γ对血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导的大鼠胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞增殖的影响

目的 观察血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）对培养大鼠胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞（VSMCs)增殖的作用及干扰素-γ对其增殖的影响。方法 幼龄Wistar大鼠（4周龄）12只，分成对照组，血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）组，干扰素-γ组和干扰素-γ AngⅡ组，采用组织块贴壁法培养胸主动脉平滑肌细胞，分别测定^3H-胸腺嘧啶（^3H-TdR),^3H-亮氨酸（^3H-Leu)的掺入量和细胞周期中各期细胞构成比。结果 AngⅡ（0.1μmol/L）作用24h能使VSMCs的^3H-TdR与^3H-TdR与^3H-Leu的掺入量比对照组增多。且S期和G2/M期细胞增多，细胞增殖指数增大；干扰素-γ组无以上作用，与AngⅡ组相比，干扰素-γ（500U/mL) AngⅡ组^3H-TdR,^3H-Leu的掺入量明显减少，S期细胞构成比和细胞增殖指数亦明显减少。结论 AngⅡ对血管平滑肌细胞有促增殖作用。这种促增殖作用能被干扰素-γ所拮抗。     

Sustained release of heparin from polymeric particles for inhibition of human vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation

Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth plays an important role in atherosclerosis, restenosis and venous bypass graft disease. With systemic drug administration no effective therapy for restenosis and venous bypass graft disease is available. This could be due to low local concentrations of the drugs at the target site. A directed delivery of drugs to tissues with a sustained release system during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or during bypass surgery could provide high concentrations of drugs at the target site and avoid systemic side effects. In the present study heparin was encapsulated by spray-drying into biodegradable poly(-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to obtain a system for prolonged drug release. SMC were cultured from saphenous vein explants obtained from patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. Cell proliferation was measured by [³H]thymidine incorporation. Heparin release from PLGA 50:50 microspheres in an isoosmolar PBS buffer (pH=7.4) showed a triphasic profile with an initial burst (completed after 24 h), a dormant period and a final stage with increased release rate, which lasted about 10–14 days. Cell proliferation as measured by [³H]thymidine incorporation was markedly stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) (5 ng/ml) or serum (5%). Proliferation of SMC was equally reduced (50%; P<0.05; n=9–11) by native heparin or heparin released from PLGA microspheres, while PLGA microspheres without heparin loading had no effect on [³H]thymidine incorporation in human SMC. Similar results were also obtained when SMC were stimulated with 5% serum instead of PDGF-BB (50%; P<0.05; n=6). Thus, heparin encapsulated into PLGA microspheres was released over a prolonged period of time and thereby effectively reduced human SMC proliferation stimulated either with PDGF or serum. Biodegradable PLGA microspheres may also be used to encapsulate other antiproliferative agents and provide a new approach for local drug delivery after PTCA. This may help to prevent restenosis after PTCA or to reduce graft disease after coronary bypass graft surgery.