Inhibitory effect of rapamycin on proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells

AbstractObjective: Rapamycin has a protective cardiovascular effect and inhibits proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells. We investigated the effects of rapamycin on proliferation of cultured human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) by determining interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.Materials and methods: Adherent third-generation primary-cultured HUASMCs were used in the study, and MTT assay was used to measure the effects of different rapamycin concentrations on cell proliferation at various time points (3–96 h). RT-PCR was used to measure IL-6 mRNA expression and ELISA was used to measure IL-6 protein expression.Results: After three passages, HUASMCs displayed >90% confluence. Inhibition of cell proliferation by rapamycin was both time and dose dependent. When the action concentration of rapamycin was 100 ng·mL–1, the inhibitory effect was strongest after 48 h (30.25 ± 2.40)%, and the follow-up study was conducted after 48 h. When the action time of rapamycin was 48 h, the inh...