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Pharmacological induction of HSP27 attenuates intimal hyperplasia in vivo
E M Connolly1, C J Kelly, Gang Chen
1Departments of Surgery and Pathology, Education and Research Center, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Rd, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Objectives:
intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a major cause of re-stenosis post-vascular intervention. Induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs), by thermal pre-conditioning, reduces IH. Our aim was to investigate the effect of the pharmacological HSP inducer herbimycin A on IH in the rat carotid balloon injury model.
Materials And Methods:
thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups. All groups underwent balloon injury to the left carotid artery. Stress proteins were induced 18 h pre-operatively by heat shock or herbimycin A. Two weeks post-operatively, animals were sacrificed and carotid intima/media area ratio (I/M ratio) calculated using computerized planimetry. Neo-intimal proliferation was assessed immunohistochemically with PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen). Western blot and immunohistochemistry for arterial HSP70 and HSP27 were performed.
Results:
heat stress and herbimycin significantly reduced the I/M ratio (p < 0.05 vs balloon injury alone). Neo-intimal proliferation was significantly reduced in the heat stress and herbimycin groups (p < 0.05 vs balloon injury alone). Heat stress induced arterial HSP70 and HSP27. Herbimycin A increased arterial HSP27.
Conclusion:
herbimycin A significantly attenuates IH after balloon injury. HSP27 may be the HSP involved in mediating this response. Pharmacological inducers of HSPs may have a therapeutic role to play in preventing re-stenosis post-vascular intervention.