Inhibition of Intimal Thickening After Balloon Angioplasty in Porcine Coronary Arteries by Targeting Regulators of the Cell Cycle

Abstract

Rapamycin administration significantly reduced the arterial proliferative response after PTCA in the pig by increasing the level of the CDKI p27(kip1) and inhibition of the pRb phosphorylation within the vessel wall. Therefore, pharmacological interventions that elevate CDKI in the vessel wall and target cyclin-dependent kinase activity may have a therapeutic role in the treatment of restenosis after angioplasty in humans.