METHOD OF AND AGENT FOR TREATING ARTERIOSCLEROSIS AND VASCULAR LESIONS BY PREVENTING PROLIFERATION OF SMOOTH MUSCLE VASCULAR FIBRES

摘要

A method for the treatment of atherosclerosis and vascular injury using exochelins, and more particularly exochelins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, to prevent vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Delivery of an effective amount of a desferri-Exochelins to a living organism such as an animal or a human by oral, intravenous or direct delivery to the site at which the effect is desired will protect blood vessels in a living organism from restenosis following angioplasty or vascular surgery and will prevent or slow the progression of atherosclerosis, systemic hypertension, radiation damage to the vasculature, stenosis or closure of bypass grafts to the coronary arteries or other blood vessels following a surgical procedure and various forms of pulmonary hypertension.