Neointimal hyperplasia is known as a main factor contributing to in-stent restenosis
(ISR). Monocytes may play a central role in vessel restenosis process after stent
implantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the
urokinase-type plasminogen activator (PLAU) and vitronectin (Vtn) gene expression
levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples isolated from whole blood of 66
patients undergoing coronary artery angiography (22 controls, stenosis < 0.05%; 22
with stent no-restenosis and stenosis < 70%; and 22 with ISR and stenosis > 70%).
The Vtn and PLAU gene expression levels were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase
chain reaction technique. The age- and gender-independent increases in the expression
levels of Vtn (17-fold; p < 0.001) and PLAU (27-fold; p < 0.0001) genes were found in the patients with ISR as compared with the control
group. The results suggested that the Vtn and PLAU genes may be involved in the coronary
artery ISR.
Keywords
in-stent restenosis - vitronectin - urokinase-type plasminogen activator