OBJECTIVE:

The activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a crucial step in the arterial wall's response to injury. The identification and characterization of the NF-κB essential modulator-binding domain (NBD) peptide, which can block the activation of the IκB kinase complex, have provided an opportunity to selectively abrogate the inflammation-induced activation of NF-κB. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the NBD peptide on neointimal formation.

METHODS AND RESULTS:

In the rat carotid artery balloon angioplasty model, local treatment with the NBD peptide (300 μg/site) significantly reduced the number of proliferating cells at day 7 (by 40%; P<0.01) and reduced injury-induced neointimal formation (by 50%; P<0.01) at day 14. These effects were associated with a significant reduction of NF-κB activation and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 expression in the carotid arteries of rats treated with the peptide. In addition, the NBD peptide (0.01 to 1 μmol/L) reduced rat smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Similar results were observed in apolipoprotein E(-/-) mice in which the NBD peptide (150 μg/site) reduced wire-induced neointimal formation at day 28 (by 47%; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

The NBD peptide reduces neointimal formation and smooth muscle cell proliferation/migration, both effects associated with the inhibition of NF-κB activation.