Experimental animal models have demonstrated inhibition of intimal hyperplasia processes by heparin. These effects have not been observed in clinical trials. Diverging experimental conditions are the most conspicuous reasons. This study was designed to test if heparin inhibits intimal hyperplasia processes on patient-derived vascular cells at clinically relevant concentrations. Study
Design:
Comparison of heparin effects on patient-derived vascular cells in culture. Place and Duration of Study Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Norway between 2012 and 2014.
Heparin inhibits intimal hyperplasia processes in patient-derived VSMC cultures, but only at concentrations exceeding clinical doses. This is due to an increased MAPK-ERK phosphorylation at lower heparin concentrations in the presence of hFGF. MAPK-ERK phosphorylation was influenced by heparin through both inhibitory and stimulatory pathways. These findings can explain the divergence of results between previous in vitro and clinical studies and provide a basis for new therapeuticstrategies.