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Updated: Aug 26, 2026
Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
Cell cycle regulator expression after coronary stenting in humans
Tetsuo Sakai1, Shin Inoue, Toshihiko Otsuka
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Showa University Toyosu Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is under the control of cell cycle regulator activity, which is induced by several growth factors. Recent attention has been drawn to treatments that target cell cycle regulators to prevent the proliferation of VSMCs after coronary angioplasty. However, histopathological evaluation of cell cycle regulator expression after human coronary stenting has not been sufficient. Thirty-one coronary arteries of 23 cadavers were examined. Time from stent implantation to patient death ranged from 0 to 235 days. Sections were stained with antibodies against platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), cyclin D1, p16, p21, and p27. Staining for macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor (MCSF-R) was conducted to detect dedifferentiated VSMCs. MCSF-R-positive cells were observed in neointima but decreased in the late stage. PDGF was detected in neointima and decreased gradually. Expression of cyclin D1 appeared to be associated with the proliferation of VSMCs, whereas p27 was downregulated with the proliferation of neointima and upregulated in the late stage. Our results suggest that one of the most promising methods for preventing excessive proliferation of neointima after stenting is to limit the decrease in p27 or the increase in cyclin D1.
Insights
Targeting cell cycle regulators like cyclin D1 and p27 may prevent excessive smooth muscle cell proliferation after coronary stenting. This study evaluated regulator expression in human coronary arteries post-stenting.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cell Cycle Regulation
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, driven by growth factors, is crucial in restenosis after coronary angioplasty.
- Current treatments aim to inhibit VSMC proliferation by targeting cell cycle regulators.
- Histopathological data on cell cycle regulator expression post-human coronary stenting is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of key cell cycle regulators and growth factors in human coronary arteries following stent implantation.
- To correlate the expression patterns of these molecules with neointima formation and VSMC proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Post-mortem human coronary arteries (n=31) from 23 cadavers were analyzed.
- Tissue sections were stained for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), cyclin D1, p16, p21, p27, and macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor (MCSF-R).
- MCSF-R staining was used to identify dedifferentiated VSMCs.
Main Results:
- MCSF-R-positive cells (dedifferentiated VSMCs) were present in neointima, decreasing over time.
- PDGF was detected in neointima and showed a gradual decrease.
- Cyclin D1 expression correlated with VSMC proliferation, while p27 was downregulated during proliferation and upregulated later.
Conclusions:
- Cyclin D1 and p27 expression levels are significantly associated with neointimal proliferation after coronary stenting.
- Modulating p27 levels or inhibiting cyclin D1 may offer therapeutic strategies to prevent excessive neointima formation.
