Effect of nuclear transcription factor-κB inhibitor on the intimal hyperplasia after vein graft

Objective To investigate the effect of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the intimal hyperplasia (IH) after vein graft in rats.Methods Autogenous vein graft model was established in 64 Wistar rats,transplanting the interior jugular vein to common jugular artery by microsurgical technique.The rats were divided into 4 groups according to the different processing methods,including PDTC 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg group,control group and saline group.Samples of vein graft were harvested on the first week and second week after surgery.NF-κBp65 mRNA and intercellular adhesive molecular (ICAM)-1 mRNA were measured by RT-PCR.The position of ICAM-1 mRNA expression was detected by in situ hybridization.Western blotting and immunohistochemistry also were used to detect the expression of p65 and ICAM-1.The IH was compared at the same time.Results The expression of NF-κBp65 mRNA and ICAM-1 mRNA was inhibited significantly by PDTC (P0.01).Expression of ICAM-1 and p65 was decreased significantly (44% to 68%,P0.01).The IH was inhibited significantly (31%～54%,P0.05) in a dose-dependant manner.Conclusion As the inhibitor of NF-κB,PDTC can inhibit IH after vein grafts,which might be accomplished by inhibition of ICAM-1 expression through inhibiting the activation of NF-κB.