纳米粒子介导反义mTOR基因转染抑制移植静脉内膜增生

目的:观察以纳米粒子为载体的外源性反义雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mTOR)基因局部转染对移植静脉内膜增生的影响。方法:应用聚乳酸聚乙醇酸共聚物(PLGA)和聚乙烯醇(PVA)包载mTOR基因，制备纳米级粒子混合物。建立自体静脉移植模型72只，随机分成转基因组(转染以纳米粒子为载体的反义mTOR基因)，空载体组(单纯转染纳米粒子包载的空载体)和对照组(不予特殊处理)。分别于术后3，7，14，28d取材。检测mTOR基因的mRNA及蛋白产物表达，以及血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)凋亡的动态变化。 结果:转基因组内膜中mTOR基因的mRNA及蛋白产物表达较其他两组明显减少(P<0.05)；转基因组内膜增生厚度于7，14，28d较其他组明显减少(P<0.01)；转基因组凋亡细胞较其他组明显增高(P<0.05)。结论:纳米粒子可以作为转基因载体。反义mTOR基因的表达能有效抑制自体移植静脉内膜的增生及促进VSMC凋亡。     

32 P局部照射对移植静脉内膜平滑肌细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

目的 研究β射线局部照射对自体移植静脉内膜平滑肌细胞（VSMC）增生与凋亡的影响及可能机制。方法 建立80只大鼠自体静脉移植模型,随机分成^32P局部照射组、对照组,每组按3、7、14、28d随机分成4个亚组、每亚组10只。取材固定,弹力纤维染色,增殖细胞核抗原、p53、bcl-2、bax免疫组化测定,TUNEL法检测静脉平滑肌细胞的凋亡,计算机图象分析仪测量移植血管内膜厚度,计算细胞增殖及凋亡百分化。结果 术后2组移植静脉段的内膜平均厚度：7、14、28d,照射组明显 于对照组（t＝15．694,P＜0．05）;7、14d照射组VSMC增殖较对照组受到明显抑制（t＝60．157,P＜0．01）。凋亡指数14d照射组高于对照组（t＝56．176,P＜0．01）。p53的表达,2组间差异无显著性意义（t＝0．473,P＞0．05）,bax与bcl－2的表达,14d照射组高于对照组（t＝9．783,P＜0．05）。结论 ^32P局部照射可以抑制自体移植静脉的内膜增生及VSMC的增殖,促进VSMC的凋亡,可能是通过bax、bcl－2基因的表达实现的。     

Validation of an in vitro model of human saphenous vein hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was the validation of the physiologic appropriateness of in vitro organ culture of human saphenous vein as a model with the demonstration of the occurrence of the processes of cell proliferation, remodeling, and hyperplasia. METHODS: Saphenous vein from 28 patients was cross-sectioned into seven 2-mm segments and maintained in organ culture for 2 days or 2 weeks. Three organ culture media were used: a chemically well-defined medium (RPMI-1640) and the same medium supplemented with the undefined protein-containing supplements fetal bovine serum (FBS) or pooled adult human plasma (type AB). The outcome measures at 2 days and 2 weeks were compared with measurements of segments from the same vein at the time of harvest. Excess saphenous vein harvested for arterial bypass grafting was obtained after approval of the study protocol by the Institutional Review Board. Cell proliferation was measured with immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Remodeling and intimal hyperplasia were measured with micromorphometric comparisons of vein segment cross-sectional area before and after organ culture. RESULTS: There was no evidence of cell death or tissue degeneration on histologic examination of the cultured vein segments. Cell proliferation, expressed as proliferation index (PI; positive proliferating cell nuclear antigen nuclei/total nuclei), significantly increased as compared with freshly harvested vein after 2 days of culture in undefined, protein-supplemented media (mean PI, 42.4 +/- 7.4%; P <.001). A significant increase in cell proliferation did not occur in the defined, unsupplemented medium until 2 weeks (mean PI, 16.2 +/- 7.1%; P <.001). The cross-sectional area of the vein wall increased during culture in all media. A statistically significant increase in the cross-sectional area of the vein wall occurred during culture with plasma (P <.001) and FBS supplementation (P =.002). The increase in the cross-sectional area of the vein in defined media was almost statistically significant (P =.089). A significant increase was seen in the cross-sectional area of the media (P =.006) and adventitia (P =.030) of veins cultured with plasma supplementation and in the cross-sectional area of the adventitia (P =.034) of veins cultured with FBS supplementation. CONCLUSION: These results show that human saphenous vein in culture is viable, shows cell proliferation, and exhibits remodeling of the layers of the vein wall. This is the first report to document hyperplasia in human vascular tissue cultured in a defined medium.     

The effect of neonatal nerve injury on the expression of heat shock proteins in developing rat motoneurones

The expression of the heat shock proteins hsp27 and hsp70 was examined in the spinal cord and sciatic nerves of developing rats. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that hsp27 is present in many motoneurones at birth. With development, the intensity of staining increases, reaching adult levels by 21 days, when all sciatic motoneurones express hsp27. In the sciatic nerve, hsp27 is strongly expressed throughout postnatal development. In contrast, hsp70 immunoreactivity in motoneurones and the sciatic nerve is weak at birth and does not change with development. The expression of heat shock proteins has been shown to increase in cells under conditions of stress, where they have beneficial effects on cell survival. The effect of neonatal nerve injury on hsp27 and hsp70 expression was also examined in this study. Four days after injury, staining for hsp27 increases in motoneurones, whereas hsp70 does not change. However, there is a significant increase in hsp70 staining in glial cells surrounding the injured motor pool, predominantly in astrocytes. Since neonatal nerve injury induces apoptotic motoneurone death, we also studied the co-expression of hsp27 with markers of apoptosis. No hsp27-positive motoneurones were found to be apoptotic, as assessed by both TUNEL and caspase-3 immunoreactivity. Therefore, it is possible that the upregulation of hsp27 observed in injured motoneurones may play a role in protecting motoneurones from apoptotic cell death following nerve injury.     

Human venous endothelium can promote intimal hyperplasia in a paracrine manner

Purpose: Vein graft stenoses resulting from the development of intimal hyperplasia are the major cause of graft failure in the first postoperative year. This study uses an organ culture of human saphenous vein to model vein graft intimal hyperplasia and assess the involvement of the endothelium in its development.Methods: Organ cultures of saphenous vein were established comprised of intact vein, vein denuded of endothelium, or cocultures of intact plus denuded vein for 14 days in serum-supplemented medium. At the end of the culture period, veins were processed and sections prepared for immunostaining with monoclonal α-smooth muscle actin, Millers elastin, QB END.10, and bromodeoxyuridine.Results: After culture, a cellular neointima developed in the intact veins that was significantly thicker than in those denuded of endothelium (24.5 vs 2.5 μm; p = 0.0001). Denuded veins in coculture with intact veins developed a thicker neointima than did denuded veins alone (12 vs 0 μm; p = 0.01) but less than that of intact veins (12 vs 28 μm; p < 0.01). Proliferation indexes followed the same trend (i.e., intimal smooth muscle cell proliferation was greatest in intact and least in denuded veins).Conclusion: The endothelium can promote neointimal formation in cultured human saphenous vein through a paracrine action on the vascular smooth muscle cell. (J VASC SURG 1994;19:577-84.)     

Vein graft arterialization causes differential activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases

OBJECTIVE: Vascular injury results in activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases-extracellular-signal regulated kinases, c-jun N-terminal kinase, and p38(MAPK)-which have been implicated in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The goal of this study was to characterize mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in arterialized vein grafts. METHODS: Carotid artery bypass using reversed external jugular vein was performed in 29 dogs. Vein grafts were harvested after 30 minutes and 3, 8, and 24 hours, and 4, 7, 14, and 28 days. Contralateral external jugular vein and external jugular vein interposition vein-to-vein grafts were used as controls. Vein graft extracts were analyzed for extracellular-signal regulated kinases, c-jun N-terminal kinase, and p38(MAPK) activation. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression was investigated as a parameter of cell proliferation. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling staining and intimal hyperplasia by morphometric examination of tissue sections. RESULTS: Significant intimal hyperplasia was observed at 28 days. Over the time points studied, vein graft arterialization resulted in bimodal activation of both extracellular-signal regulated kinase and p38(MAPK) (30 minutes through 3 hours; 4 days) but did not induce activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression increased from days 1 through 28, and apoptosis increased between 8 and 24 hours. CONCLUSION: Vein graft arterialization induces bimodal activation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase and p38(MAPK); however, in contrast with what is described in arterial injury, it does not induce c-jun N-terminal kinase activation. These results provide the first comprehensive characterization of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways activated in vein graft arterialization and identify mitogen-activated protein kinases as potential mediators of vein graft remodeling and subsequent intimal hyperplasia.     

All-trans-retinoic acid decreases vein graft intimal hyperplasia and matrix metalloproteinase activity in vivo

BACKGROUND: Development of vein graft intimal hyperplasia has been associated with increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) decreases expression and activity of MMPs in tissue culture and has decreased intimal hyperplasia following arterial balloon catheter injury. We examined the effect of oral administration of atRA on intimal hyperplasia and MMP expression in an animal model of vein bypass grafting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Interposition jugular vein bypass grafts were placed in the carotid artery of New Zealand white rabbits. Animals received either atRA (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (corn oil) for a period of 2 weeks. Retinoic acid serum levels were determined by HPLC. Intimal and medial areas were measured using morphometric analysis of perfusion-fixed vein graft specimens, and intimal thickness was calculated using circumferential measurements. Expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in vein grafts and unoperated control veins was determined using Northern analysis, and proteolytic activity was determined using substrate gel zymography. RESULTS: Animals treated with atRA had significantly elevated serum levels of this compound and its metabolites. A decrease in intimal to medial ratio was noted after 28 days in vein grafts from treated animals (0.63 vs 0.88, P < 0.01), and a decrease in calculated intimal thickness was noted at 7 and 28 days. Expression of MMP-2 was decreased in treated animals 7 days following surgery, and expression of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 was decreased at 28 days. A decrease in proteolytic activity was noted on zymography at 68 kDa, 7 and 28 days following surgery in vein grafts from animals treated with atRA, corresponding with a decrease in the active form of MMP-2. Increased expression of TIMP-1 was noted in vein grafts from both the treated and the control groups, 7 and 28 days following graft placement. CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of all-trans-retinoic acid resulted in decreased intimal hyperplasia in an animal model of vein bypass grafting. This was associated with decreased expression and activity of MMP-2 in treated animals.     

Inhibition of Intimal/Medial Hyperplasia by Perindopril in Canine Vein Grafts

We used a canine model to assess the efficacy of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (perindopril) at modulating intimal/medial hyperplasia in vein bypass grafts. Fourteen beagle dogs were divided into medicated and control groups and underwent bilateral grafting of external jugular veins into the common carotid artery. Samples of normal veins were obtained from the control group during vein grafting. Vein grafts were harvested 1 week and 4 weeks after surgery in both groups. Subsequently, intimal/medial thickness was measured by staining with hematoxylin and eosin; antibodies for proliferating cell nuclear antigen were employed to determine the degree of cellular proliferation; apoptotic cells were detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling method. In the medicated group, the intimal/medial cross-sectional area was significantly smaller and increased 8- to 9-fold in comparison to the control group, which increased 12- to 20-fold. There was a significantly higher rate of cell proliferation in the control group, whereas the medicated group showed a significantly higher rate of apoptotic cells. These data support the efficacy of perindopril at reducing intimal/medial hyperplasia in arterialized vein grafts during a short postoperative period.     

p27kip1基因表达对大鼠移植静脉内膜平滑肌细胞增殖与凋亡的影响

目的观察以聚乳酸聚乙醇酸（PLGA）纳米粒子为载体的人p27^kip1基因局部转染自体移植静脉后，对大鼠静脉内膜平滑肌细胞增殖及凋亡的影响。方法Wistar大鼠120只建立自体静脉移植模型，随机分成3组。转基因组：移植静脉转染以PLGA纳米粒子为载体的p27^kip1基因；空白对照组：转染不含有p27^kip1基因的单纯PLGA纳米粒子；单纯静脉移植组：使用生理盐水。分别于术后3、7、14、28d取材，常规HE、Verhoeff弹力纤维染色，Western blot检测p27^kip1蛋白的表达，免疫组化（SABC）法检测增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达、TUNEL法观察内膜平滑肌细胞凋亡的动态变化。结果转基因组内膜中p27^kip1蛋白表达水平高于其他组；内膜平均厚度7、14、28d低于其他2组（P〈0．01）；转基因组内膜PCNA的表达7、14d明显受到抑制（P〈0．01），平滑肌细胞的凋亡细胞百分比于7、14d较对照组明显增加（P〈0．01），单纯静脉移植组与空白对照组之间各项监测指标差异无统计学意义。结论p27^kip1基因的过表达能够有效抑制自体静脉移植后的内膜增生（IH），促进平滑肌细胞的凋亡。     

RNA干扰沉默蛋白激酶B基因表达对移植静脉内膜增生的影响

摘要：目的:观察纳米粒子包载的靶向蛋白激酶B(PKB)基因的shRNA表达载体局部转染对大鼠移植静脉内膜增生的影响。方法:应用聚乳酸聚乙醇酸共聚物(PLGA)和聚乙烯醇(PVA)包载PKB的RNA干扰基因载体，制备纳米级粒子混合物。建立自体颈静脉-颈总动脉移植模型共72只，随机分成转基因组、空载体组和对照组。分别于术后3，7，14，28 d取材；常规HE及Verhoeff 染色,用Northern blot和Western blot检测PKB基因的mRNA及蛋白的变化，HE和Verhoeff 染色观察内膜厚度，TUNEL法观察血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)凋亡的动态变化。结果:转基因组内膜中PKB基因的mRNA及蛋白产物表达较其他两组明显减少(P＜0.05)；术后7，14，28 d转基因组静脉内膜增生厚度较其他组明显减少(P＜0.01)；转基因组细胞凋亡率较其他组明显增高(P＜0.05)。结论:纳米粒子可以作为转基因载体；沉默PKB基因表达能有效地抑制自体移植静脉内膜的增生，促进VSMC的凋亡。     

反义c-fos核酸对自体移植静脉内膜增生的影响

目的:利用反义核酸技术和显微外科技术,探讨反义c-fos核酸对自体移植静脉内膜增生的影响.方法:选择20只新西兰家免,等分为实验组和对照组,均行自体颈外静脉、颈总动脉移植手术,实验组移植静脉周围和血管吻合口周围应用反义c-fos核酸凝胶涂布;对照组仅行凝胶涂布.术后2周取出移植血管,分别行病理学、免疫组织化学检测移植血管内膜厚度,内膜平滑肌细胞数及PCNA阳性表达情况.结果:实验组移植血管内膜厚度、管腔狭窄度及VSMC数均较对照组减少,PCNA阳性表达情况亦较对照组明显减少.结论:反义c-fos核酸可有效的抑制移植静脉内膜的增生,是一种比较有发展前途的防治移植静脉内膜增生的基因疗法.     

Gene delivery to aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts in a large animal model of intimal hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE: More than 50% of aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts are occluded 10 years after surgery. Intimal hyperplasia is an initial, critical step in the progression toward occlusion. To date, no clinically relevant large animal models of aortocoronary saphenous vein graft intimal hyperplasia have been fully characterized. Gene therapy holds promise as a novel treatment for aortocoronary saphenous vein graft intimal hyperplasia. The 2 objectives of this study are to characterize a canine model of aortocoronary saphenous vein graft intimal hyperplasia and to demonstrate that ex vivo gene delivery is possible in these grafts using adenoviral vectors. METHODS: Ten dogs underwent aortocoronary bypass grafting using saphenous veins. Six dogs underwent serial arteriograms to monitor graft patency. On postoperative day 90, the dogs were killed and their grafted and nongrafted saphenous veins were studied histologically. Four dogs underwent the same procedure, but their saphenous veins were treated with 1 x 10(12) total viral particles of a replication-deficient, recombinant adenovirus containing beta-galactosidase (n = 2) or the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase carboxyl terminus (n = 2). These animals were killed on postoperative day 7 for determination of transgene expression. RESULTS: All grafts were demonstrated patent by arteriogram before the animals were killed. The mean intimal area of the saphenous vein grafts was increased when compared with that of the nongrafted saphenous veins (2.83 mm(2) vs 0.09 mm(2), P <.0008). Adenoviral-treated saphenous vein grafts demonstrated positive transgene expression either by X-gal staining (beta-galactosidase) or Northern analysis (beta-adrenergic receptor kinase carboxyl terminus). CONCLUSION: This study characterizes a clinically relevant canine model of aortocoronary saphenous vein graft intimal hyperplasia. In addition, it demonstrates that adenoviral vectors can be delivered ex vivo to the saphenous vein graft vessel wall at subphysiologic distension pressures. This model may be used in future studies to manipulate molecular targets critical in aortocoronary saphenous vein graft intimal hyperplasia.     

Calcium channel antagonist verapamil inhibits neointimal formation and enhances apoptosis in a vascular graft model

BACKGROUND: The potential of the calcium channel antagonist verapamil to cause apoptosis (programmed cell death) is of considerable importance in arterial injury where the loss of smooth muscle cells may contribute to a reduction in intimal hyperplasia development. The aim of this study was to determine whether verapamil induces vascular cell apoptosis after carotid artery synthetic grafting. METHODS: Thirty-two adult-female Merino sheep received gelatin sealed fusiform shape-Dacron grafts into the left common carotid artery at day 0. After operation animals were randomly allocated to either a control group or one of three treatment groups (groups 2, 3, and 4). Group 1 animals (n = 9) received no treatment. For the treatment groups, intravenous verapamil was given at a rate of 0.5 mg/kg per day in two divided doses. Group 2, 3, and 4 sheep were treated for 1, 2, and 4 weeks, respectively. Animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-fluorescent labelling. Proliferating cells and their phenotype were determined by doublestaining with antiproliferation cellular nuclei antigen and anti-alpha-actin or anti-HAM-56. RESULTS: There were significantly more apoptotic cells in the perigraft adventitia in the 4-week treatment group than in the control group (P <0.05). The average number of proliferating cells at 2 and 4 weeks in the intima were significantly less than in the control (P <0.05). The average numbers of macrophages inside graft matrix in the 2 and 4 weeks treatment groups were significantly less than for the control (P <0.05). The number of proliferating cells inside the graft was significantly lower at 4 weeks compared with control (P <0.05). There was negative correlation between intimal PCNA expression and perigraft apoptotic expression level (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: The antihypertensive agent verapamil inhibits intimal hyperplasia through enhancing adventitial cell apoptosis and inhibiting intimal cell proliferation after vascular grafting.     

Reduction of intimal hyperplasia and enhanced reactivity of experimental vein bypass grafts with verapamil treatment.

Recent studies have shown that calcium antagonists exert an antiatherogenic effect in animals fed cholesterol. Vein graft intimal hyperplasia is believed to be an early event in atherosclerotic lesion formation, which is a significant cause of graft failure. Altered vasoreactivity has also been postulated in the etiology of vein graft failure. Therefore this study examined the effect of verapamil treatment on the development of intimal hyperplasia and the vasoreactivity of experimental vein bypass grafts. The right external jugular vein was grafted into the right carotid artery of 30 male New Zealand white rabbits fed normal rabbit chow. The left external jugular vein was used as the control vein. Fifteen animals received verapamil (1.25 mg/day for 28 days) via the femoral vein by means of an osmotic pump. In 15 control animals the pump contained saline. Plasma verapamil concentration was 50.9 +/- 13.2 ng/mL (x +/- SEM), a dose that showed no effect on either blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, or in vitro platelet aggregation to ADP. Fourteen of fifteen grafts were patent in each group, for a patency rate of 93%. Histologic examination using computer morphometry showed significant reduction of intimal hyperplasia at the proximal, middle, and distal graft segments (p less than 0.05). In addition in vitro isometric tension studies of the vein grafts and control veins showed that verapamil causes enhanced reactivity of both vein grafts and control veins in response to norepinephrine and histamine (p less than 0.05). Reactivity of vein grafts to serotonin was unaltered. While none of the normal veins in the control group responded to serotonin, normal veins treated with verapamil contracted readily in response to serotonin. Endothelial-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was absent in both control and verapamil-treated vein grafts, while normal veins from both groups responded to the same extent to acetylcholine. Because we could not demonstrate any difference in platelet or endothelium function between untreated and verapamil-treated animals, we examined the direct effect of verapamil on smooth muscle. Verapamil significantly inhibited [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA in vascular smooth muscle cells in culture in a dose-dependent manner. Verapamil treatment significantly reduces intimal hyperplasia in experimental vein grafts and inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation in culture. Furthermore the enhanced reactivity to norepinephrine and histamine in the verapamil-treated vessels has no detrimental effect on the patency rate at 4 weeks. Thus by inhibiting intimal hyperplasia, calcium antagonists may improve the long-term patency of vein bypass grafts.     

A novel function for cadherin 11/osteoblast-cadherin in vascular smooth muscle cells: modulation of cell migration and proliferation

OBJECTIVE: Intimal hyperplasia is a common cause of vein graft failure in cardiovascular surgery. The molecular basis for intimal hyperplasia remains poorly defined. We have previously identified, by gene chip analysis of vein grafts, increased messenger (mRNA) for the adhesion molecule cadherin 11/osteoblast-cadherin (CDH11). The function of CDH11 in vascular cells is unknown. The aim of the present study is to confirm CDH11 expression in vein grafts and characterize its role in vascular remodeling. METHODS: Cephalic vein interposition grafts were implanted in a canine model and harvested at predetermined time points. CDH11 protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Early passage human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were used for in vitro studies. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to assess cellular CDH11 mRNA levels. CDH11 signaling was inhibited by either transfection with silencing RNA targeting CDH11 or with a blocking antibody to CDH11. Cellular migration was evaluated and cellular proliferation was assessed. RESULTS: Expression of CDH11 was increased in medial SMCs of vein grafts recovered at 7, 14, and 30 days after surgery compared with control veins from the same animals. In vitro CDH11 mRNA was up-regulated 1.8 +/- 0.2-fold (P = .003) in SMCs after treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Cellular migration was attenuated by inhibition of CDH11 both with a blocking antibody (0.67 +/- 0.09; P = .063) and gene knockdown mediated by small interfering RNA (0.67 +/- 0.14; P = .036). SMC proliferation decreased by 3.1-fold (P = .006) in the presence of CDH11-blocking antibody. Knockdown of CDH11 mediated by small interfering RNA resulted in a 1.3-fold (P = .018) decrease in proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: CDH11 is up-regulated in SMC in vivo and in vitro as part of the response to injury. Inhibition of CDH11 decreases SMC migration and proliferation, two pathogenic effectors of intimal hyperplasia.     

Paclitaxel treatment reduces neointimal hyperplasia in cultured human saphenous veins

Background: Paclitaxel exerts antiproliferative properties by stabilizing microtubuli of the cell. The substance is in clinical use for drug-eluting coronary stents. We aimed to test the hypothesis that paclitaxel treatment can reduce neointimal hyperplasia in cultured human saphenous veins and thus might be useful for local pharmacologic treatment of vein grafts prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: The remnants of saphenous veins from 13 patients undergoing CABG were collected. The development of neointimal hyperplasia was induced using an established organ culture model (incubation time 2 weeks). In the treatment group, paclitaxel was added to the culture medium at different concentrations. Results: Veins treated with 1 μmol/l paclitaxel showed a median increase of intimal thickness of 2 μm (range −76 to 46) above baseline levels, whereas untreated control veins increased by 15 μm (range −3 to 142) (p = 0.022). Treatment with 10 μmol/l paclitaxel resulted in a lower intimal thickness growth of 1 μm (range −82 to 212) above baseline levels (p = 0.035 vs controls). Treatment with 25 or 50 μmol/l paclitaxel did not further inhibit intimal hyperplasia. The neointimal amount of the contractile protein smooth muscle actin (SMA) in paclitaxel 1 μmol/l treated veins was significantly higher than baseline values (p = 0.037). The cytoskeletal protein desmin was predominant in the media, whereas it was less frequently found in the intima, and we observed no difference between controls and paclitaxel treated veins. The proliferation marker ki-67 was occasionally present in the circumferential media, whereas it was almost absent in both the (inner) longitudinal media and the intima. Elastic fibers were present in the media and intima before and after organ culture without significant differences between the groups. Collagen fibers (Masson's trichrome) were found abundantly (80%) in the inner longitudinal media, less commonly (20%) in the outer circumferential media, and they were absent in the intima without difference between the groups. Conclusion: Local paclitaxel treatment reduces neointimal hyperplasia in cultured human saphenous veins, without changing the amount of elastic or collagen fibers. Paclitaxel treatment leads to an increased amount of the contractile protein SMA and thus might have a therapeutic potential for the prevention of vein graft disease.     

Endothelin-B receptors mediate intimal hyperplasia in an organ culture of human saphenous vein

Objective: Although a number of pharmacologic agents have been shown to reduce intimal hyperplasia in animal models of restenosis, to date no systemic agent has conclusively been shown to be effective in humans. Recently, considerable attention has been directed towards endothelin (ET), a potent vasoconstrictor and a powerful mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells, as a mediator of intimal hyperplasia. Endothelin-1 has been shown to be mitogenic for human saphenous vein smooth muscle cells, and expression also is elevated in human vein graft stenosis. The aim of this study was the investigation of whether ET receptor antagonists can attenuate neointima formation in a laboratory model of vein graft intimal hyperplasia and the determination of whether the effects are mediated by a specific ET receptor subtype. Methods: We used an organ culture of human saphenous vein, a well-validated model of vein graft intimal hyperplasia. Paired segments of human long saphenous vein were cultured with and without the following antagonists: bosentan, a nonselective ET receptor antagonist; BQ 123, a specific endothelin-A antagonist; or BQ 788, a specific endothelin-B (ET_B) antagonist. After 14 days in the culture, the segments were fixed and processed and the sections were immunostained to facilitate the measurements of neointimal thickness with a computerized image analysis system. Results: The nonselective antagonist bosentan and the ET_B selective antagonist BQ 788 significantly reduced neointima formation by 70% (P = .001) and 50% (P = .03), respectively, but the ET_A antagonist BQ 123 had no significant effect on the reduction of neointima formation (P = 1.0). Conclusion: The results of this study imply an important role for ET as a mediator of human vein graft intimal hyperplasia and imply further that a specific ET_B antagonist may have a therapeutic potential for the prevention of vein graft stenosis. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:695-701.)