Nobiletin Inhibits PDGF-BB-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Migration and Attenuates Neointimal Hyperplasia in a Rat Carotid Artery Injury Model

The abnormal migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a pivotal role in the development of neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. Nobiletin, a citrus bioflavonoid, exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. The present study evalutaed whether nobiletin could inhibit platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB- stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration and decrease neointimal hyperplasia in a rat carotid artery injury model. Cultured VSMCs from rat thoracic aortas were treated with nobiletin before being stimulated with 20ng/ml PDGF-BB, and rats were subjected to carotid artery injury. Nobiletin inhibited PDGF-BB-induced VSMC proliferation and migration, attenuated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and the expression of nuclear NF-B p65 in PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs. Nobiletin decreased the intima area and the ratio of neointima to media in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries. Serum levels of TNF- and IL-6 in nobiletin-treated rats were decreased. These results indicated that nobiletin could be a potential protective agent for the prevention and treatment of restenosis after angioplasty. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.