Halofuginone stimulates adaptive remodeling and preserves re-endothelialization in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Three major processes, constrictive vessel remodeling, intimal hyperplasia (IH), and retarded re-endothelialization, contribute to restenosis after vascular reconstructions. Clinically used drugs inhibit IH but delay re-endothelialization and also cause constrictive remodeling. Here we have examined halofuginone, an herbal derivative, for its beneficial effects on vessel remodeling and differential inhibition of IH versus re-endothelialization.

Methods and results

Two weeks after perivascular application to balloon-injured rat common carotid arteries, halofuginone versus vehicle (n=6 animals) enlarged luminal area 2.14-fold by increasing vessel size (adaptive remodeling; 123%), reducing IH (74.3%) without inhibiting re-endothelialization. Consistent with its posit

SUBMITTER: Guo LW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4140988 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature