Effect of erythromycin on homocysteine-induced extracellular matrix metalloproteinase-2 production in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Background & objectives: Several lines of evidence have shown an association between Chlamydia infection and atherosclerosis, but clinical trials of preventive antibiotic (erythromycin) treatment in patients with coronary artery disease have shown conflicting results. Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease and causes an intense remodelling of the extracellular matrix in arterial walls, particularly an elastolysis involving metalloproteinases. In the present study we investigated the effects of erythromycin on the production of homocysteineinduced extracellular matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).