Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of antisense-Smad3 adenovirus vector transfection on carotid intimal hyperplasia after balloon injury in rats. Methods Ninety SD rats were randomly divided into injury group (balloon injury on carotid intima), intervention group (antisense Smad3 adenovirus vector transfection after balloon injury) and blank control group (blank adenovirus vector transfection after balloon injury). Another six age-matched rats were served as control groups (without any treatment). Rats in each group were sacrificed 1 d, 3 d, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after injury, and samples were harvested. The serum concentrations of TGF-β1 in injury group and normal control group of different time points were determined by ELISA. The expression of Smad3 mRNA of carotid artery in injury group, intervention group and blank control group was detected by Real-time PCR, and the carotid intima and media thickness was measured by HE staining. Results The serum concentrations of TGF-β1 of each time point in injury group were significantly higher than those of normal control group (P<0.05). The expression of Smad3 mRNA 1 d, 3 d, 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month after injury and intima/media thickness ratios 1 d, 2 weeks and 3 months after injury in intervention group were significantly lower than those in injury group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in the expression of Smad3 mRNA and intima/media thickness ratios between injury group and blank control group (P>0.05). Conclusion Antisense-Smad3 adenovirus vector transfection can block TGF-β1/Smad3 signal transduction, and inhibit intimal hyperplasia.

Key words: balloon injury, intimal hyperplasia, TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, antisense Smad3, adenovirus