Summary
In the current study, we investigated the effect of local intravascular delivery of
17β-estradiol (17β-E) on subsequent instent neointimal hyperplasia. Twenty-seven stents
were implanted in coronary arteries of juvenile swine. Coronary arteries were randomized
to local treatment with 17β-E or no drug therapy (control-vehicle treated). Twenty-eight
days posttreatment, angiographic images revealed an improved minimal lumen diameter
(2.2 ± 0.2 vs. 1.3 ± 0.2 mm, P < 0.005) and a reduction of late lumen loss (1.7 ±
0.2 vs. 2.3 ± 0.1 mm, P < 0.01) in 17β-E-treated vessels compared to control-vehicle
treated. Histological analyses showed a reduction of stenosis (51.49 ± 6.75 vs.70.86
± 6.24%, P < 0.05), mean neointimal thickness (0.51 ± 0.07 vs.0.83 ± 0.14 mm, P <
0.05) and inflammation score (1.29 ± 0.28 vs. 2.85 ± 0.40, P < 0.05) in 17β-E-treated
arteries compared to control-vehicle treated arteries. Immunohistochemistry analyses
revealed a reduction of proliferating smooth muscle cells and increased in-stent reendothelialization
in 17β-E-treated arteries. Finally, we observed a correlation between neointimal hyperplasia
and inflammation score, which in turn, was inversely related to reendothelialization.
Locally delivered, 17β-E is inhibiting the inflammatory response and smooth muscle
cells proliferation and improving vascular reendothelialization which together are
contributing to reduce instent restenosis in a porcine coronary injury model. Together,
these data demonstrate the potential clinical application of 17β-estradiol to improve
vascular healing and prevent in-stent restenosis.
Keywords
Coronary disease - hormones - inflammation - restenosis - stents