1. ¹Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
2. ²Primate Research Center, Guandong, China
3. ³Gaoyao Kangda Laboratory Animals Science and Technology, Guandong, China

Correspondence: Dr K Egashira, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan

Received 12 October 2003; Accepted 19 March 2004; Published online 3 June 2004.

Abstract

In-stent restenosis results exclusively from neointimal hyperplasia due to mechanical injury and a foreign body response to the prosthesis. Inflammation mediated by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) might therefore underlie in-stent restenosis. We recently devised a new strategy for anti-MCP-1 gene therapy by transfecting an N-terminal deletion mutant of the MCP-1 gene into skeletal muscles. We used this strategy to investigate the role of MCP-1 in experimental in-stent restenosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits and monkeys. Transfection of the mutant MCP-1 gene suppressed monocyte infiltration/activation in the stented arterial wall and markedly reduced the development of neointimal hyperplasia. This strategy also suppressed local expression of MCP-1 and inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, inhibition of MCP-1-mediated inflammation is effective in reducing experimental in-stent restenosis. This strategy might be a useful form of gene therapy against human in-stent restenosis.