Y. Togane et al., Protective roles of endogenous-carbon monoxide in neointimal development elicited by arterial injury, AM J P-HEAR, 278(2), 2000, pp. H623-H632
Citations number
40
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
We reported that carbon monoxide (CO) generated through heme oxygenase (HO)
inhibits mitogen-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VS
MCs). We report that balloon injury induces HO-1, the stress-inducible isoz
yme of HO, in VSMCs and inhibits neointimal formation through the action of
endogenous CO. Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed th
at HO-1 is markedly induced in the media as early as 1 day after injury, wh
ereas only a little expression was detected in the intact carotid artery. T
he neointimal proliferative changes were augmented or inhibited by the HO i
nhibitors or inducer, respectively, and effects of these interventions were
not altered by suppression of endogenous nitric oxide (NO), if any. To elu
cidate the mechanisms by which HO controls the proliferative changes, effec
ts of alterations in the HO reaction were examined by determining angiotens
in II-elicited VSMC proliferation in vitro: the HO inducer attenuated and i
ts inhibitor restored the proliferative response to angiotensin II(1 nM and
100 nM). Hemoglobin, a reagent trapping both NO and CO, but not methemoglo
bin, which can capture NO but not CO, augmented the proliferative response.
These data suggest that endogenous CO serves as a protective factor that l
imits the excessive VSMC proliferation associated with vascular diseases.