Mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor on the prevention of restenosis after angioplasty

To evaluate the mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the prevention of restenosis after angioplasty, the recombinant adenovirus vector containing hVEGF₁₆₅ cDNA was constructed and transfected into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro. The conditioned medium containing VEGF was collected 72 h after the infection. Then, the VSMC and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were divided into control group, H₂O₂-treated group and H₂O₂+ VEGF-treated group to observe the proliferation and apoptosis by water soluble tetrazolium (WST-1) method, in situ nick end labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry (FCM). Compared with the control and H₂O₂+ VEGF-treated groups, the absorbance (A) value of HUVEC was decreased, and apoptosis of HUVEC was significantly increased in H₂O₂-treated group. The changes of A value and apoptosis of VSMC were contrary to those of HUVEC. H₂O₂ could stimulate the proliferation of VSMC and induce the apoptosis of HUVEC, inhibit the proliferation of HUVEC and the apoptosis of VSMC and induce restenosis. VEGF could inhibit the effect of H₂O₂ on HUVEC and VSMC and prevent restenosis. These results offered further theoretical evidence for VEGF on the prevention of restenosis after angioplasty.