Effects of scallop skirt glycosaminoglycan on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in rats / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM To investigate if scallop (Placopecta magellanicus) skirt glycosaminoglycan (SS-GAG) inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) as heparin does so and to clarify its mechanism. METHODS The inhibitory effects of SS-GAG on the proliferation of rat thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta VSMC induced by fetal bovine serum (FBS) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were determined by cell counting, crystal violet staining and MTT colorimetry. The effects of SS-GAG on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in VSMC proliferation induced by bFGF were evaluated by immunohistochemical technique (LSAB method) and computer image analysis system. RESULTSSS-GAG exerted antagonistic effects on VSMC proliferation induced by 20% FBS and 50 μg·L-1 bFGF at concentrations ranging from 50 mg·L-1 to 200 mg·L-1 and repressed the increasing expression of PCNA and PDGF. CONCLUSION SS-GAG significantly inhibits the proliferation of VSMC, which may be carried out through repression of PDGF and PCNA expression.