ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To focus on the study of the effect on proliferation and apoptosis of human aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC) by adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector carrying antisense thrombin receptor (ATR) and p21 double gene co-expression system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cultured human AMSC was infected with recombinant AAV containing ATR, p21 single gene and AP double gene respectively. The integration and expression of genes were confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The anti-proliferation effect was determined by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptotic cell counts were measured through Flow Cytometry. The rate of apoptotic cells was examined with acridine orange/ethidium bromide(AO/EB) stain.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCR indicated that the exogenous genes had been integrated into ASMC. The rates of cell survival were decreased by 16.67%, 21.60%, and 29.4% and the cell counts of G0/G1 phase were (61.8 +/- 2.9)%, (82.5 +/- 4.0)%, (80.4 +/- 6.1)% in ATR, p21 and AP group respectively after rAAV infected 4 days. The level and area of apoptotic peak were greater in AP double gene than ATR and p21 single gene. Cell stain indicated that apoptotic cells were (7.2 +/- 3.3)%, (10.7 +/- 5.6)%, and (18.3 +/- 2.7)% in each transgene group compared with (1.5 +/- 0.8)% in control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AP double gene co-expression system has powerful effect for inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis ASMC than ATR and p21 single gene and that is a superior way for gene therapy to restenosis.</p>