Cyclic strain amplitude dictates the growth response of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro: role in in-stent restenosis and inhibition with a sirolimus drug-eluting stent

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The putative effects of changes in mean strain and cyclic strain amplitude on vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) growth (proliferation and apoptosis) were examined. Subsequently, a quantitative measure of vSMC growth was obtained to determine the prolonged effect of changes in mechanical burden following bare-metal stent (BMS) and sirolimus drug-eluting stent (DES) deployment in vitro. Bovine aortic vSMCs were exposed to prolonged cyclic strain using a Flexercell(TM) Tension system and a novel Sylgard(TM) phantom vessel following stent implantation before the level of vSMC proliferation and apoptosis was assessed by FACS analysis, cell counting, and immunocytochemistry. Physiological cyclic strain (5%) decreased vSMC proliferation and increased apoptosis in a temporal manner. There was no significant difference in cell growth following exposure to varying mean strains with similar amplitude. In contrast, exposure to varying strain amplitudes with similar mean strains resulted in significant differences in cell proliferation and apoptosis. In parallel studies, the level of vSMC proliferation and cell survival was significantly increased within low amplitude, high mean strain regions of a phantom vessel following BMS implantation when compared to regions of higher strain amplitude upstream and downstream of the stent, respectively. Moreover, the level of vSMC growth within the stented region was significantly attenuated following implantation of a sirolimus-coated DES independent of significant changes in cell survival. Cyclic strain amplitude is an important regulator of vSMC growth capacity within a stent and is a target for inhibition using a sirolimus-coated DES.