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Pharmacologic treatment of atherosclerosis: beyond lipid-lowering therapy

P Marche1, T Hérembert, D L Zhu

  • 1CNRS, Université René Descartes, Paris, France. marche@necker.fr

International Journal of Cardiology
|March 6, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Atherosclerosis involves smooth muscle cell proliferation. Calcium channel blockers like amlodipine may offer an alternative treatment by inhibiting this growth and preventing arterial narrowing.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology and Atherosclerosis Research
  • Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Background:

  • Myointimal hyperplasia, driven by smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, causes luminal narrowing in early atherogenesis.
  • Understanding SMC proliferation mechanisms is key for developing alternative atherosclerosis treatments beyond lipid-lowering therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review mechanisms controlling vascular SMC reactivity and proliferation.
  • To examine the role of calcium ions and calcium antagonists in atherosclerosis prevention and treatment.
  • To specifically review amlodipine's effects on cell growth and antiatherogenic properties.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature focusing on vascular SMC proliferation mechanisms.
  • Comparison of arterial cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY).
  • Discussion of calcium's role in cell reactivity and the effects of calcium antagonists.

Main Results:

  • SHR-derived arterial cells show exaggerated growth and hyperresponsiveness compared to WKY cells.
  • Free Ca2+ ions are central to controlling overall cell reactivity.
  • Calcium antagonists demonstrate beneficial effects in preventing and treating atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

  • Amlodipine, a vascular-selective L-type calcium channel blocker, influences cell growth.
  • Amlodipine exhibits antiatherogenic properties, potentially by modulating vascular SMC proliferation.
  • Calcium channel modulation represents a promising therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.

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