Objective-Mechanism of neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury includes activation of signaling pathways and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are involved in cell proliferation and migration. Rosiglitazone, a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-␥ (PPAR-␥) agonist, was reported to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in diabetic animals and humans. But the underlying mechanism has not been clarified. In this study, we examined how rosiglitazone inhibited neointimal hyperplasia. Methods and Results-The proliferation and survival of cultured rat VSMCs were reduced by rosiglitazone, which was mediated by inhibition of ERK and activation GSK-3, without change of Akt. The antiproliferative effect of rosiglitazone was reversed by GSK-3 inactivation. The migration of VSMCs was also suppressed by rosiglitazone that inhibited the expression and activity MMP-9 through GSK-3 activation. Thus migration of MMP-9(Ϫ/Ϫ) VSMCs from MMP-9 knockout mice was not affected by rosiglitazone. The underlying mechanism of MMP-9 suppression by rosiglitazone was that it inhibited NF-B DNA binding activity, which was also dependent on GSK-3. In rat carotid artery, balloon injury significantly inactivated GSK-3 with induction of MMP-9, which was effectively prevented by rosiglitazone. Thus, rosiglitazone significantly decreased the ratio of intima to media by reducing proliferation and inducing apoptosis of VSMCs at neointima, which was reversed by inactivation of GSK-3 with adenoviral transfer of catalytically-inactive GSK-KM gene. Key Words: restenosis Ⅲ rosiglitazone Ⅲ GSK-3 Ⅲ MMP-9 Ⅲ VSMCs A fter vascular injury such as balloon angioplasty, there are diverse mechanisms of VSMC proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia. There have been many studies showing that inhibition of these mechanisms can reduce neointimal hyperplasia. Among these mechanisms, the MAPK signaling pathway was reported to be activated by vascular injury and the inhibition of activated ERK pathway by drugs or gene therapy can reduce neointimal hyperplasia. 1-3 Akt/GSK pathway was also involved, as we and others showed that modulation of Akt or GSK pathway results in reduction of proliferation of VSMCs and neointimal formation. 4 -6 Rosiglitazone is a synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-␥ (PPAR-␥) agonist, initially developed as an antidiabetic drug. Previous studies have revealed that rosiglitazone regulates gene expression of key proteins involved in lipid metabolism, vascular inflammation, and proliferation, [7][8][9] resulting in not only improved insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes but also protection against development of atherosclerosis. 10,11 Recently, several studies demonstrated that rosiglitazone prevented neointimal hyperplasia after vessel injury in diabetic animals or after coronary stenting in diabetic patients. [12][13][14][15] However, the mechanism of rosiglitazone to reduce neointimal hyperplasia has not been clarified.
Conclusions-RosiglitazoneAs a possible mechanism, we are interested in ...