[Can nifedipine prevent aging of blood vessels?]

Vascular cell aging is thought to underlie atherosclerosis and it has been hypothesized that it may be possible to delay the development of arteriosclerosis by controlling the cell cycle. Administration of small, sub-antihypertensive dosages of nifedipine has been associated with a decrease in beta-galactosidase stain-positive cells (which is marker of cellular aging) and in atherosclerotic plaque area in an experimental model. These data indicate that nifedipine inhibited aging of vascular cells. Moreover, nifedipine inhibited inflammatory cytokines and the induction of cell cycle regulator, i.e. inhibited proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Further research is needed to define the mechanisms by which nifedipine inhibits proliferation of VSMC.