The effects of arsenic trioxide on the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells of rats

Objective To observe the effects of arsenic trioxide(As2O3)on the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC)of rats in order to investigate the possibility for its application in slow-release drug delivery endovascular stent.Methods VSMCs of rats were isolated,cultured and treated with As2O3;methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium reduction reaction(MTT method)was used to measure the proliferation of cell,and the mRNA of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)was measured by RT-PCR;the apoptosis was measured using Annexin V and PI double staining by flow cytometry;colorimetric method was employed to measure the activities of cysteine aspartic acid protease-3(Caspase-3).Results 2 μmol/L As2O3 showed significant inhibitory effects on the growth of VSMC(P0.01 in comparison with the control group),and this effects were time-dependent.As2O3 showed significant inhibitory effects on the expression of PCNA mRNA after the cells were treated with 2 μmol/L As2O3 for 72 h(P=0.009),and it did significantly promote the apoptosis of VSMC(P=0.0001)and the activation of Caspase-3(P=0.005).Conclusion As2O3 can effectively inhibit the proliferation of VSMC and induce the apoptosis of VSMC.The application of As2O3 may provide a new idea for the investigations on drugs for the prevention and treatment on restenosis after endovascular stent implantation.