Fibroblast growth factor-1 inhibits medial smooth muscle cells apoptosis after balloon injury

We performed balloon injury in the rat common carotid artery and identified apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by in situ terminal deox ynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling, 2 h after injury. Balloon injury induces apoptosis and loss of bcl-X protein in the innermos t layers of the media of the common carotid artery. Treatment with acidic f ibroblast growth factor (aFGF, FGF-1) attenuated by 56% the balloon angiopl asty-induced apoptosis. In addition, FGF-1 treatment also induces expressio n of the bcl-X anti-apoptotic protein in the same site of the media showing VSMC apoptosis. These data suggest that the anti-apoptotic effect of FGF i n injured vascular wall was mediated by a bcl-X pathway and identified FGF as an important factor in vascular remodeling.