RESUMO
[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the inhibitory effect of Am80 on neointima hyperplasia in carotid arteries after balloon injury and to observe the interaction between Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and retinoic acid receptorα(RARα). METHODS:Neointima hyperplasia in carotid arteries was observed by hemotoxylin and eosin staining.The expression of KLF4 and cyclin D1 was examined by immunostaining and Western blotting analysis.To detect the interaction between KLF4 and RARαin the vascular tissue, the injured arteries were harvested, and the protein extracts were prepared and subjected to co-immunoprecipitation assay.RESULTS:Compared with injured group, Am80 significantly reduced neointi-mal hyperplasia and the thickness ratio of intima to media.Am80 not only up-regulated KLF4 or RARαexpression in caro-tid arteries, but also increased the interaction between KLF4 and RARαat tissue levels.CONCLUSION:Am80 inhibits neointima hyperplasia in carotid arteries after balloon injury by promoting the interaction between KLF4 and RARα.