Abstract
The decrease in pulmonary artery smooth muscle mass which normally occurs after birth does not occur in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (Murphy et al, J Pediatr 98:962, 1981). Heparin inhibits the proliferative effect of serum on quiescent adult rat aortic (Ao) (Hoover et al, Circulation Res 51:280, 1982) and fetal calf pulmonary artery (PA) (Coulson et al, Pediatr Res 16:110A, 1982) smooth muscle cells (SMC) in vitro. However, SMC in the developing PA are not quiescent. Therefore, we studied the effect of heparin on exponentially growing fetal calf PA and Ao SMC. Heparin inhibits the proliferation of these PA and Ao SMC in a reversible and dose-dependent manner: final cell densities (8 days of culture) were 100%, 66%, 46%, and 24% of that of control cultures (no heparin) at added heparin concentrations of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 ug/ml, respectively (p<0.005). The dose-response curves for PA and Ao SMC were not different. PA SMC proliferation was also inhibited by dextran sulfate, but not by the physiologic glycosaminoglycans, dermatan sulfate, chondroitin-4- or -6-sulfate, or hyaluronic acid. We conclude that heparin inhibits proliferation of expanding, as well as quiescent, populations of fetal PA and Ao SMC. Therefore, heparin-like molecules, which are ubiquitous on cell surfaces, may be regulators of the changes in PA SMC mass which occur in the perinatal period. (Supported by NIH Grant HD06763 and a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Medical Student Traineeship.)
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Lessler, D., Benitz, W. & Bernfield, M. HEPARIN INHIBITS THE PROLIFERATION OF DIVIDING AORTIC AND PULMONARY ARTERIAL SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS IN VITRO. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 141 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00288
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00288