Proliferation and apoptosis of cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells induced by homocysteine

AIM: To investigate the effects of homocysteine (Hcy) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) cultured in vitro. METHODS: HVSMCs were cultured in vitro. The rate of proliferation of HVSMCs was detected by MTT assay and the rate of apoptosis of HVSMCs was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The absorbance value of HVSMCs incubated with 100, 200, 500 and 1000 μmol/L Hcy for 24 h was significantly higher respectively than that of the control group (P0.05) ,revealing that Hcy could induce the proliferation of HVSMCs in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.94,P 0.01) . The rate of apoptosis of HVSMCs incubated with 200, 500 and 1000 μmol/L Hcy for 24 h was significantly higher respectively than that of the control group (P 0.05) ,showing that Hcy could induce the apoptosis of HVSMCs in a dose-dependent manner (r=0.85, P 0.05 ). CONCLUSION: Hcy can induce the proliferation and apoptosis of HVSMCs, which may be one of the mechanisms involved in atherosclerotic effects of Hcy.