Cilostazol inhibits high glucose- and angiotensin II-induced type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor expression in artery wall and neointimal region after vascular injury

Atherosclerosis. 2009 Dec;207(2):391-8. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2009.06.016. Epub 2009 Jun 18.

Abstract

Increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in vascular tissues is a potential factor linking diabetes to restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. Recent studies have shown that cilostazol, a selective type 3 phosphodiesterase inhibitor, prevents neointimal hyperplasia and in-stent thrombosis in patients with diabetes after coronary angioplasty and stent implantation. However, the molecular mechanism of this drug has not been fully elucidated. We examined whether cilostazol inhibits PAI-1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and neointimal hyperplasia. We found that cilostazol effectively inhibits angiotensin II-, high glucose- and TGF-beta-stimulated PAI-1 expression in vivo and in vitro. Cilostazol attenuated PAI-1 expression in neointimal regions and inhibited neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury. Cilostazol inhibited PAI-1 expression by multiple mechanisms including downregulation of TGF-beta, JNK and p38 signaling pathways. Cilostazol also inhibited transactivating activity at the PAI-1 promoter by Smad3, leading to a suppression of PAI-1 gene transcription. Taken together with its antiproliferative effect on VSMCs, this may explain how cilostazol exerts its antithrombogenic effects after angioplasty and stent implantation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angioplasty, Balloon / adverse effects
  • Angiotensin II / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Carotid Arteries / drug effects
  • Carotid Arteries / metabolism
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / drug therapy*
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / etiology
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / metabolism
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cilostazol
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hyperplasia
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Male
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / pathology
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / genetics
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Smad3 Protein / metabolism
  • Tetrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Transcriptional Activation / drug effects
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Tunica Intima / drug effects*
  • Tunica Intima / metabolism
  • Tunica Intima / pathology
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • Smad3 Protein
  • Smad3 protein, rat
  • Tetrazoles
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Angiotensin II
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Cilostazol