Effect of estrogen on apoptosis and expression of c-myc protein in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells of rabbit

Objective:To investigate the effects of 17β estradiol (17β-E2) on apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and the possible underlying mechanism.Method:The apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry in subcultured VSMC exposed to different concentrations (10, 100 nmol/L)of 17β-E2. The intracellular localization of c-myc protein in VSMC was detected by immunocytochemical method.Result:The ratio of VSMCs apoptosis was increased significantly by 17β-E2 with dose-dependant compared with control group(P0.01), as accompanied by a significant raise of pro-apoptosis c-myc protein expression. Conclusion:17β-E2 might induce the apoptosis of VSMC in part by the reason that the expression of pro-apoptosis oncogene c-myc protein upregulates.