Experimental Study of Adenovirus Vector Mediated-hVEGF165 Gene on Prevention of Restenosis after Angioplasty

This study evaluated the effects of adenovirus vector mediated human vascular endotheli-al growth factor-165 (hVEGF165) gene on prevention of restenosis after angioplasty. Rabbit models of bilateral carotid artery injury were established by balloon denudation. The recombinant adenovi-ruses containing hVEGF165 cDNA was directly injected into left side of the injured carotid arteries.On day 3 and week 3 after transfection the expression of VEGF was observed by RT-PCR and im-munohistochemistry. The thrombokinesis, reendothelialization (rET) and intimal hyperplasia in ca-rotid arteries were evaluated by computerized image analysis system 3 weeks after gene transfer,The changes in the VEGF gene-treated side were compared with the control side. Our results showed that 3 days and 3 weeks after hVEGF165 gene transfer the VEGF mRNA and antigen ex-pression were detected in vivo. 3 weeks after the transfer, the carotid artery rET was markedly better in the VEGF gene-treated group compared with the control. The thrombokinesis, intima are-a/media area (I/M), maximal intimal and medial thicknesses (ITmax and MTmax) demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in arteries treated with VEGF gene as compared with the control group. It is concluded that VEGF gene transfer could be achieved by intra-arterial injection of re-combinant adenoviruses. It might accelerate the restoration of endothelial integrity, inhibit throm-bokinesis and attenuate intimal hyperplasia in the injured arteries after VEGF gene transfer. This procedure could be useful in preventing restenosis after angioplasty.