Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of triptolide-eluting stents implanted in porcine coronary arteries for restenosis prevention, and its effect on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and P27(kip1).
Methods: Ten triptolide-eluting stents and 10 stainless steel stents (control) were implanted in 20 porcine coronary arteries at random. Four weeks later, angiography of the arteries was performed along with also histopathological and immunochemical examinations.
Results: The in-stent minimal lumen diameter of triptolide group was significantly greater, and the neointimal area significantly smaller, than those of the control group (P<0.05). PCNA expression was significantly lower while P27(kip1) protein significantly higher in triptolide group than in the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Triptolide-eluting stent can effectively inhibit neointimal formation to prevent restenosis in porcine coronary artery 4 weeks after implantation, probably by inhibiting P27(kip1) expression and consequently vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.