Angiopoietin-1 gene plasmid and bone marrow mononuclear cell transfer accelerates reendothelialization in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury

摘要

Re-endothelialization of injured vascular endothelium is effective for prevention of in-stent restenosis as well as stent thrombosis. Vascular-specific growth factors play an important role in the development and formation of vascular networks in humans [1]. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), a vessel-specific growth factor unrelated to VEGF, exerts a specific effect on endothelial cells as well as the maturation and stabilization of blood vessels. Ang-1 does not mediate proliferative activity but rather strongly inhibits apoptosis of endothelial cells [2,3]. Implantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) contributes to neoangiogenesis of ischemic tissues by supplying EPCs into the vasculature and inducing secretion of various angiogenic growth factors [4]. Thus, it can be hypothesized that Ang-1 prevents neointima formation and improves reendothe-lialization, and that a combination treatment utilizing BM-MNCs may produce a beneficial additive effect.