We studied the effect of arterial balloon injury on nuclear factor-kap
pa B (NF-kappa B) mobilization and ICAM-1 expression in untreated rats
and rats treated with aspirin. Baseline NF-kappa B nuclear binding in
smooth muscle cells (SMC) increased two-fold within 6 h after balloon
injury. The binding returned to baseline 3 days after injury. Consist
ently nuclear staining of p65 active subunit increased in the medial S
MC following balloon injury. There was no baseline ICAM-1 expression.
Within 3 days after balloon injury there was marked medial ICAM-1 expr
ession, that localized to neointima 7 days after injury and to regrowi
ng endothelial cells 14 days after injury. Treatment with aspirin inhi
bited NF-kappa B nuclear translocation and binding and was associated
with reduction of ICAM-1 expression, SMC proliferation and neointimal
thickening following balloon injury. These data suggest that transient
mobilization of NF-kappa B in vascular SMC after balloon injury media
tes ICAM-1 expression and is involved in arterial response to balloon
injury. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.