Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Methods to Study Mrp4-containing Macromolecular Complexes in the Regulation of Fibroblast Migration
10:43

Methods to Study Mrp4-containing Macromolecular Complexes in the Regulation of Fibroblast Migration

Published on: May 19, 2016

Rapamycin inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell migration

M Poon1, S O Marx, R Gallo

  • 1Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|November 15, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Rapamycin, an antibiotic, effectively inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell migration. This finding is crucial for understanding and treating conditions like restenosis and arteriopathy.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Abnormal vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration are key factors in restenosis and arteriopathy.
  • Rapamycin previously showed inhibition of SMC proliferation, unlike FK506.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of rapamycin on SMC migration in vitro and in vivo.
  • To compare rapamycin's effect on SMC migration with FK506.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro assays using a modified Boyden chamber to assess PDGF-induced SMC migration.
  • In vivo studies using a porcine aortic SMC explant model.
  • Administration of rapamycin orally to pigs.

Main Results:

  • Rapamycin significantly inhibited PDGF-induced SMC migration in cultured rat and human cells (P < 0.0001).
  • FK506 did not significantly affect SMC migration.
  • Oral administration of rapamycin significantly inhibited porcine aortic SMC migration (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

  • Rapamycin is a potent inhibitor of vascular smooth muscle cell migration.
  • Beyond its immunosuppressive and antiproliferative properties, rapamycin also impacts SMC migration, suggesting therapeutic potential for vascular diseases.

More Related Videos

Mechanistic Insight into the Development of TNBS-Mediated Intestinal Fibrosis and Evaluating the Inhibitory Effects of Rapamycin10:21

Mechanistic Insight into the Development of TNBS-Mediated Intestinal Fibrosis and Evaluating the Inhibitory Effects of Rapamycin

Published on: September 12, 2019

Isolation of Primary Patient-specific Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells and Semiquantitative Real-time Contraction Measurements In Vitro08:28

Isolation of Primary Patient-specific Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells and Semiquantitative Real-time Contraction Measurements In Vitro

Published on: February 15, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Cell Migration01:09

Cell Migration

Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Cell Migration01:19

Cell Migration

Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
Role of Myosin in Cell Migration01:18

Role of Myosin in Cell Migration

Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
Myosin II  is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction. It is...
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...