Basic fibroblast growth factor as a potential stent coating material inducing endothelial cell proliferation

Aim: The use of drug-eluting stents has reduced the incidence of in-stent restenosis following percutaneous coronary intervention; however, almost all drugs eluting from polymers on stents induce antiproliferative effects on vascular endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Due to injury of the endothelium and delayed reendothelialization, the risk of thrombosis increases over time. Enhancing rapid reendothelialization after stent placement is important for solving these problems. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is one of the most important growth factors involved in vascular lesion formation. In this study, we evaluated the potential of bFGF as a stent coating promoting endothelial cell proliferation. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were cultured with various doses of bFGF in vitro, and the effects of bFGF on the degree of cell proliferation and migration were monitored. We also investigated the effects of bFGF on the protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in HUVECs using Western blotting. Results: Cell proliferation and migration were promoted in HUVECs by bFGF in a dose- and timedependent manner. On the other hand, bFGF stimulation had little effect on the HASMCs. Basic FGF increased the eNOS protein levels in the HUVECs, with a maximum at 10 ng/mL followed by a decline at 100 ng/mL. Conclusions: Basic FGF is a possible candidate stent coating and/or eluting drug material stimulating endothelial cell proliferation and early reendothelialization without excessive vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.