Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Nitric oxide (NO), produced by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), plays key roles in the cardiovascular system, including anti-inflammatory actions. Loss of NOS/NO activity may be important in inflammation and vascular injury in early vein grafts (VG). We used a recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad.nNOS), to augment NOS activity in VG. Methods: Male New Zealand White rabbits (n=16) underwent interposition venous bypass grafting to the carotid artery using the jugular vein. Ad.nNOS (5 × 10 9pfu/ml) was instilled into the VG for 20 minutes during surgery. Experimental vessels and controls were harvested at 3 or 7 days (n=4 all groups). Vessel wet weight /length ratio was measured, and frozen sections analysed for: (1) presence of NOS by NADPH diaphorase (NADPH/d) staining; (2) expression of adhesion molecules (VCAM, ICAM) and (3) inflammatory cell markers (CD18, RAM11) by immunohistochemistry, using computer-aided image analysis; (4) intimal thickness on histology. Results: Adhesion molecule expression, inflammatory cell infiltration and intimal hyperplasia were all significantly reduced after Ad.nNOS gene transfer, as illustrated in the table (*p<0.05, **p<0.01): 3 days 7 days Control Ad.nNOS Control Ad.nNOS Weight/length (mg/mm) 2.9±0.2 2.2±0.3 * 4.7±0.5 3.2±0.2 ** Intimal thickness (μm) N/A N/A 8.3±0.8 2.2±0.2 ** VCAM (μm 2/HPF) 54±7.5 20±3.8* 61±6.2 29±5.1 * ICAM (μm 2/HPF) 100±10 37±6.6** 80±9.3 42±6.1 ** CD18 (cells/HPF) 3.4±0.7 1.4±0.4* 2.1±0.4 0.7±0.2* RAM 11 (cells/HPF) 5.1±0.7 2.2±0.4** 9.6±1.6 3.3±1.2** NADPH/d (μm 2/HPF) 62±4.8 118±5.6 ** 34±4.8 62±6.4* Conclusions: Intraoperative gene transfer of Ad.nNOS significantly reduces early vascular inflammation and subsequent intimal hyperplasia in VG. These findings suggest an important role for NO in early VG pathobiology, and highlight NOS as a potential gene therapy target.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Heart

Publication Date

01/05/1999

Volume

81