Abstract

Excessive cellular proliferation contributes to the pathobiology of vascular obstructive diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis, in-stent restenosis, transplant vasculopathy, and vessel bypass graft failure). Therefore, anti-proliferative therapies may be a suitable approach in the treatment of these disorders. Candidate targets for such strategies include the cyclin-dependent kinase / cyclin holoenzymes, members of the cyclin-dependent kinase family of inhibitory proteins, tumor suppressors, growth factors and transcription factors that control cell cycle progression. In this review, we will discuss the use of pharmacological agents and gene therapy approaches targeting cellular proliferation in animal models and clinical trials of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: atherosclerosis, restenosis, bypass graft failure, cell cycle, pharmacological therapy, gene therapy