The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and the possible mechanism of action of the synthesized drug isoeugenodilol
(a new third-generation β-adrenoceptor blocker) on the growth factor-induced proliferation of cultured rat vascular smooth
muscle cells (VSMCs) and neointimal formation in a rat carotid arterial balloon injury model. Isoeugenodilol significantly
inhibited 10% FBS, 20 ng/ml PDGF-BB, and 20 ng/ml vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced proliferation. In accordance
with these findings, isoeugenodilol revealed blocking of the FBS-inducible progression through the G
0/G
1 to the S phase of the cell cycle in synchronized cells. Neointimal formation, measured 14 days after injury, was reduced
by the oral administration of isoeugenodilol (10 mg/kg/day). In an in vitro assay, isoeugenodilol inhibited the migration
of VSMCs stimulated by PDGF-BB. These findings indicate that isoeugenodilol shows an inhibitory potency on neointimal formation
due to inhibition of both migration and proliferation of VSMCs. In addition, isoeugenodilol in concentration-dependent manner
decreased the levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in both VSMCs and balloon-injured carotid arteries. The levels of phosphorylated
MEK1/2 and Pyk2 as well as intracellular Ca
2+ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were in concentration-dependent manner reduced by isoeugenodilol. Taken together, these
results indicate that isoeugenodilol may suppress mitogen-stimulated proliferation and migration partially through inhibiting
cellular ROS and calcium, and hence, through activation of the Pyk2-ERK1/2 signal pathway. This suggests that isoeugenodilol
has potential for the prevention of atherosclerosis and restenosis.
Keywords α-/β-Adrenoceptor blockade - Vascular smooth muscle cell - Restenosis - Migration - MAP kinase - Calcium - Reactive oxygen species