Pharmacological induction of HSP27 attenuates intimal hyperplasia in vivo

Abstract Objectives: intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a major cause of re-stenosis post-vascular intervention. Induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs), by thermal pre-conditioning, reduces IH. Our aim was to investigate the effect of the pharmacological HSP inducer herbimycin A on IH in the rat carotid balloon injury model. Materials and Methods: thirty male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized into three groups. All groups underwent balloon injury to the left carotid artery. Stress proteins were induced 18 h pre-operatively by heat shock or herbimycin A. Two weeks post-operatively, animals were sacrificed and carotid intima/media area ratio (I/M ratio) calculated using computerized planimetry. Neo-intimal proliferation was assessed immunohistochemically with PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen). Western blot and immunohistochemistry for arterial HSP70 and HSP27 were performed. Results: heat stress and herbimycin significantly reduced the I/M ratio ( p p Conclusion: herbimycin A significantly attenuates IH after balloon injury. HSP27 may be the HSP involved in mediating this response. Pharmacological inducers of HSPs may have a therapeutic role to play in preventing re-stenosis post-vascular intervention. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 25, 40–47 (2003)