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Circulation. 2000;101:296-304

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(Circulation. 2000;101:296.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.


Basic Science Reports

Inhibition of Late Vein Graft Neointima Formation in Human and Porcine Models by Adenovirus-Mediated Overexpression of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3

Sarah J. George, PhD; Clinton T. Lloyd, FRCS; Gianni D. Angelini, FRCS, MD; Andrew C. Newby, PhD; Andrew H. Baker, PhD

From the Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Dr Baker’s current address is Dept of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Glasgow, Western Infirmary, Glasgow G116NT, UK.

Correspondence to Sarah J. George, PhD, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK. E-mail s.j.george{at}bris.ac.uk


*    Abstract
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*Abstract
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Background—Autologous saphenous vein coronary artery bypass graft surgery is complicated by late graft failure due to neointima formation and subsequent atherosclerosis. Growth factors and metalloproteinases (MMPs) act in concert to promote neointima formation. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3), an extracellular matrix–associated MMP inhibitor, uniquely promotes apoptosis of isolated vascular smooth muscle cells. Here, we overexpressed TIMP-3 at the luminal surface of human saphenous veins before organ culture and in pig saphenous veins before interposition grafting into carotid arteries in vivo to assess neointima formation.

Methods and Results—In both models, high TIMP-3 immunoreactivity occurred in the luminal and upper medial extracellular matrix after adenovirus delivery. MMP activity measured by in situ zymography was reduced throughout the veins, confirming a bystander effect. By use of 3 independent techniques, apoptosis levels in the neointima and medial layer were significantly elevated by TIMP-3 overexpression. Neointima formation was reduced by 84% in 14-day human organ cultures and by 58% in 28-day pig vein grafts (both P<0.05). In contrast, TIMP-2 overexpression had no effect on neointima formation in vivo.

Conclusions—Our results highlight the potential therapeutic benefit for TIMP-3 overexpression to reduce neointima formation associated with late vein graft failure.


Key Words: metalloproteinases • genes • viruses • grafting • neointima


*    Introduction
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up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
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down arrowDiscussion
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Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is initially effective in relieving the symptoms of angina and prolongs survival. Arterial conduits are preferred, but the requirement for multiple grafts results in the use of autologous saphenous vein. Late vein graft failure occurs as a result of neointima formation and superimposed atherosclerosis, resulting in a 30% to 50% failure rate within 10 years.1 Because of the lack of effective pharmacological interventions for treatment of late vein graft failure, we have focused on the possibility of using a gene-based therapy.

Matrix-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the progression of vascular diseases.2 3 4 5 Together, MMPs can degrade all components of the extracellular matrix (ECM),6 and dysregulation of MMPs promotes migration and/or proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). MMP activity is regulated by binding of endogenous inhibitors, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), a family of 4 members,7 8 9 10 to both pro-MMPs and active forms of MMPs.11 12 13 14 15

Recently, the role of MMPs in vascular pathologies has been substantiated by TIMP overexpression studies. Overexpression of TIMP-1 or -2 inhibits neointima formation in the rat model of angioplasty restenosis and in an in vitro human model of vein graft neointima formation.16 17 18 19 20 Overexpression of TIMP-3, but not TIMP-1 or -2, promotes apoptosis of SMCs.21 This novel function prompted us to define whether TIMP-3 would be useful as a novel gene therapeutic approach for prevention of vein graft neointima formation.


*    Methods
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*Methods
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Materials
Unless stated, all chemicals were obtained from Sigma. Media, antibiotics, and FCS were purchased from Gibco/BRL; nucleotides from Boehringer Mannheim; and enzymes from Promega. Replication-defective recombinant adenoviruses RAdlacZ (reporter gene), RAdTIMP-2 (human TIMP-2), and RAdTIMP-3 (human TIMP-3) have been described elsewhere.21

Adenovirus-Mediated Infection of Human Saphenous Vein and Subsequent Organ Culture
Luminal delivery of adenoviruses to human saphenous vein was performed as described.18 Briefly, 4- to 6-cm segments were cannulated, and the luminal surface was exposed to adenovirus at 1.2x1010 pfu/mL at physiological pressure for 1 hour. Segments of vein were cultured for 14 days in RPMI 1640 medium containing 30% FCS and antibiotics.

Infection of Pig Saphenous Vein and Graft Procedure
The saphenous vein from each hind limb of 20- to 30-kg Landrace pigs was surgically exposed, and the side branches were ligated. The vein was placed in sterile medium, cannulated, and flushed and infused with vehicle (10 mmol/L Tris-HCl, 125 mmol/L NaCl, 1 mmol/L MgCl2, pH 7.4) or adenovirus at 2.5x1010 pfu/mL without distension for 30 minutes at room temperature. Heparin (100 IU/kg) was administered systemically, and the vein was anastomosed as an end-to-end interposition graft into each common carotid artery.22 The pigs were maintained on a normal chow diet for 7 or 28 days before explantation.

Localization of Transgene Production and Other Immunocytochemical Procedures
For analysis of ß-galactosidase expression, explanted grafts were stained with X-gal stain [100 mmol/L sodium phosphate, pH 7.3 (77 mmol/L Na2HPO4, 23 mmol/L NaH2PO4), 1.3 mmol/L MgCl2, 3 mmol/L K3Fe(CN)6, 3 mmol/L K4Fe(CN)6, and 1 mg/mL X-gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl-ß-D-galactopyranosidase)] for 16 hours at 37°C. Staining was photographed en face, and the veins were then cross-sectioned and stained with nuclear fast red stain.

Immunocytochemistry was performed with a monoclonal anti–human TIMP-3 antibody (TCS Biologicals). Briefly, frozen sections were incubated with antibody (1 µg/mL) or isotype-matched control IgG for 18 hours at 4°C. Immunoreactivity was visualized with Extravidin peroxidase and diaminobenzidine staining. Local overexpression of TIMP-3 in pig vein grafts was quantified by image analysis within 200 µm from the luminal surface. SMCs and endothelial cells were identified by immunostaining with {alpha}-smooth muscle cell actin for SMCs (human and pig tissue) or QBend10 (human; Dako) and DBA lectin (pig vein grafts; Vector Laboratories) for endothelial cells.

Evaluation of MMP Inhibition
Veins were analyzed for gelatinolytic activity by gelatin in situ zymography as described previously.23 Briefly, frozen sections (4 sections per sample, n=3 grafts per group) were coated with LM-1 photographic emulsion (Amersham International) diluted 1:2 with incubation medium (50 mmol/L Tris-HCl, 50 mmol/L NaCl, 10 mmol/L CaCl2, 0.05% [wt/vol] Brij 35, pH 7.6). After incubation overnight (human) and for 4 hours (pig) at 37°C, slides were developed and fixed. Controls included 20 mmol/L EDTA or 200 nmol/L MMP inhibitor Ro 31-9790 (Roche Diagnostics Ltd).

Detection of Apoptosis
Three independent methods were used to evaluate apoptosis in human veins (n=6) and pig vein grafts (n=4 per group). First, in situ end-labeling (ISEL) was performed. In brief, paraffin sections were washed twice in 1xTE (10 mmol/L Tris-HCl, 1 mmol/L EDTA, pH 8.0) and incubated in 50 mmol/L Tris-HCl, pH 7.2, 10 mmol/L MgSO4, 0.1 mmol/L dithiothreitol, 0.01 mmol/L each of dATP, dCTP, and dGTP, 0.01 mmol/L biotin-dUTP, and 8 U/mL of DNA polymerase I (Klenow). Incorporated biotin-dUTP was detected with Extravidin peroxidase and counterstained with hematoxylin. Second, terminal dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) was performed as described.24 Sections were incubated in 100 mmol/L cacodylate (pH 6.4), 1 mmol/L CoCl2, 0.1 mmol/L dithiothreitol, 0.01 mmol/L each of dATP and biotin-dUTP, and 8 U/mL terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase at 37°C for 60 minutes. Third, immunocytochemical staining for the proapoptotic bcl-2 family member, bak, was performed. Frozen sections were stained with a monoclonal anti–human bak antibody (1 µg/mL) overnight at 4°C, and cytoplasmic staining was evaluated.

Measurement of Neointima Formation
In human veins, neointima formation was quantified from sections (n=6 per group) stained with Miller’s elastic van Gieson (EVG) and Mayer’s hematoxylin and eosin stains25 by use of image analysis (Image-Pro Plus version 3, Media Cybernetics).17 18 Neointimal area was measured in each of 3 pairs of serial sections, and the mean neointima thickness was determined by dividing by the length of the vein segment. The total number of neointimal cells 7 and 14 days after infection was counted and the mean calculated for each vein segment. The mean was divided by the length of the vein segment in millimeters to normalize for variations in the vein diameter between patients. Proliferation was assessed by continuous labeling with 10 µmol/L bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and immunocytochemical detection of positive nuclei as described.17 In pig vein grafts, 4 transverse sections at each of 3 equally spaced intervals were stained with EVG (n=6 grafts per group). For each section, the neointimal luminal surface, internal elastic lamina, and external elastic lamina were identified and traced from digital images, and neointimal and medial areas were calculated. Endothelial cell coverage was also quantified. For human saphenous veins, the number of cells positive for the endothelial cell marker QBend10 was counted (n=6 per group) and expressed per millimeter of vein length. In pig vein grafts, the percentage luminal coverage was calculated by image analysis after DBA lectin staining (n=4 per group).

Statistical Analysis
Analysis was performed by 2-way ANOVA for multiple comparisons between groups. Values were considered significant at P<0.05. Values are expressed as the mean±SEM.


*    Results
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*Results
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Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer to Porcine Saphenous Vein
Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to human saphenous vein has been described.18 We therefore initially characterized gene transfer to pig saphenous vein after graft placement in vivo. At 7 days after grafting, widespread ß-galactosidase staining was observed throughout the surface of the graft, with no staining in the adjacent carotid artery (Figure 1Down). No staining was observed in vein grafts treated with vehicle alone. Quantification on cross sections revealed that 40±18% of surface cells were ß-galactosidase–positive at 7 days (Figure 1Down; n=3), similar to the infection efficiency of human saphenous vein.18 However, analysis of grafts 28 days after infection demonstrated that only sporadic ß-galactosidase–positive cells remained (data not shown).



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Figure 1. En face analysis of adenoviral gene transfer to porcine interposition grafts. Vehicle-treated (A and C) and RAdlacZ-treated (B and D) vein grafts (VG) were removed 7 days after implantation, pinned, and analyzed for ß-galactosidase expression en face (A and B) and on cross sections (C and D). Arrows indicate anastomoses. CA indicates carotid artery. Blue cells are ß-galactosidase–positive cells.

Recombinant TIMP-3 Localizes to the ECM
Unlike TIMP-1 and -2, TIMP-3 is normally found within the ECM.26 Uninfected and RAdlacZ-infected human saphenous veins showed low levels of TIMP-3 located within the ECM of the media and neointima, and this was not increased with culture, consistent with previous observations (Figure 2ADown and 2CDown; RAd35-infected not shown).27 Infection with RAdTIMP-3 led to a substantial increase in TIMP-3 located within the ECM at the luminal surface and in the upper media (Figure 2BDown and 2DDown). Similar patterns were observed in pig vessels. TIMP-3 was undetectable in control carotid artery and in ungrafted saphenous vein (not shown). Low-level, diffuse TIMP-3 staining throughout the neointima, media, and adventitia was detected in vehicle- and RAdlacZ-treated control vein grafts at days 7 and 28 (Figure 2EDown and 2GDown). In contrast, high levels of TIMP-3 were observed in the ECM surrounding cells of RAdTIMP-3–treated vein grafts after 7 days (Figure 2FDown), which was still evident at 28 days after infection, albeit reduced (Figure 2HDown). Quantification of TIMP-3 overexpression by image analysis revealed that 26.5±7.0% of the luminal surface and upper media was immunoreactive for TIMP-3 (versus 2.2±0.7% for vehicle-treated and 0.7±0.2% for RAdlacZ-infected controls, P<0.05 versus both controls, n=3), which remained elevated at 28 days after infection (11.2±2.5%). In contrast, TIMP-2 overexpression, like ß-galactosidase in RAdlacZ-treated grafts, was evident at day 7 but not at day 28 (not shown).



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Figure 2. Immunolocalization of TIMP-3 in human saphenous vein and pig saphenous vein grafts after adenovirus-mediated delivery. Frozen sections of human vein at day 7 (A and B) and day 14 (C and D) and pig vein grafts at day 7 (E and F) and day 28 (G and H) were analyzed for TIMP-3 by immunocytochemistry. Diffuse TIMP-3 immunostaining was detected in uninfected controls (A, C, E, and G) at all time points. In contrast, high TIMP-3 immunoreactivity induced by adenovirus-mediated overexpression is located within ECM at luminal surface and upper media in RAdTIMP-3–infected samples of human saphenous vein (B and D) and pig vein grafts (F and H). Arrows in A and C indicated neointimal/medial barrier in uninfected human saphenous veins. Scale bar in A represents 25 µm and is applicable to all panels.

TIMP-2 or -3 Overexpression Potently Inhibits MMP Activity
Elevated levels of pro-MMPs and activated gelatinases (MMP-2 and -9) are associated with the progression of vein graft neointima formation. Low-level MMP activity was detected in control uninfected human saphenous veins, consistent with previous observations,27 which increased with culture both in the media and in the neointima (Figure 3ADown and 3CDown). Overexpression of TIMP-3 substantially reduced gelatinase activity both at the luminal surface and in the medial layer (Figure 3BDown and 3DDown). MMP activity was greatly diminished even in regions with no detectable recombinant TIMP-3 immunoreactivity, ie, deeper medial layers. Zymography of tissue extracts revealed that TIMP-3 overexpression did not alter the absolute levels of MMP-2 or -9.



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Figure 3. TIMP-3 overexpression inhibits MMP activity. In situ zymography was used to assess MMP activity in human saphenous vein at day 7 (A and B) and day 14 (C and D) and in pig saphenous vein grafts at day 7 (E through H). Zones of MMP activity appear as white holes in dark background (which represent regions with no MMP activity or where MMP activity is inhibited). Uninfected control human saphenous veins (A and C) and vehicle-treated (E) and RAdlacZ-treated (F) pig vein grafts show high MMP activity, which is inhibited by TIMP-2 in pig (H) or TIMP-3 overexpression in human (B and D) and pig (G) tissues throughout vein. Arrows in A and C indicate neointimal/medial boundary and those in B, D, and E through H, luminal surface. Scale bar in A represents 50 µm and is applicable to A through D; in E it is 100 µm and applicable to panels E through H.

Low-level MMP activity was detected in ungrafted pig saphenous vein but was undetectable in control carotid arteries (not shown). Evaluation of vehicle- and RAdlacZ-treated veins revealed that MMP activity was high at day 7 after grafting both at the luminal surface and in the media (Figure 3EUp and 3FUp), and this was sustained at day 28 (not shown). Overexpression of TIMP-2 or TIMP-3 reduced MMP activity throughout the neointima and media 7 days after infection (Figure 3GUp and 3HUp) and was sustained at day 28 (not shown). Adventitial MMP activity was detectable, but low, in control vein grafts at days 7 and 28 and was unchanged by luminal overexpression of TIMP-2 or TIMP-3 (not shown).

Localized TIMP-3 but Not TIMP-2 Overexpression Promotes Apoptosis
To determine whether TIMP-3 overexpression promoted apoptosis, ISEL, TUNEL, and immunocytochemical staining for bak were performed. The numbers of ISEL-positive cells was low in control uninfected human veins in the neointima and in the media after 7 and 14 days (Figure 4ADown, Table 1Down). In contrast, in RAdTIMP-3 infected veins, both neointimal and medial cell apoptosis was significantly elevated from control values (Figure 4BDown, Table 1Down). Similar results were obtained with the TUNEL technique (Table 1Down) and by immunocytochemical staining for cytoplasmic bak (Figure 4CDown and 4DDown, Table 1Down).



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Figure 4. Effect of TIMP-3 overexpression on apoptosis in human saphenous vein (A through D) and pig interposition grafts (E through H). Apoptosis was evaluated by ISEL (A, B, E, and F) or bak immunostaining (C, D, G, and H) in control uninfected (A, C, E, and G) and RAdTIMP-3–infected (B, D, F, and H) human saphenous vein grafts at day 7 and in pig grafts at day 7. Inset in F demonstrates double staining for ISEL (red) and {alpha}-smooth muscle cell actin (brown) in a RAdTIMP-3–infected vein graft at day 7. Arrows in A, C, E, and G indicate neointimal/medial boundary. Arrowheads in B, D, F, and H indicate examples of positive nuclei for ISEL or positive immunostaining for bak. Scale bar in A represents 25 µm and is applicable to all panels.


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Table 1. Apoptosis Levels in Uninfected Control and RAdTIMP-3–Infected Human Saphenous Vein Cultures

In pig vessels, no apoptosis was observed in control carotid artery or control ungrafted saphenous vein (not shown). ISEL showed that apoptosis in the neointima and media (combined score) was moderately induced in 7-day vein grafts (0.7±0.4% for vehicle-treated and 0.3±0.1% for RAdlacZ-treated, Figure 3EUp and 3FUp). Grafts infected with RAdTIMP-3 (4.5±1.1%) but not TIMP-2 (0.7±0.2%) showed significantly elevated levels of apoptosis (Figure 4Up; TIMP-2 not shown), P<0.05 versus both vehicle- and RAdlacZ-treated control groups, n=6). Colocalization studies revealed that 79±3% of ISEL-positive cells also stained for {alpha}-smooth muscle actin (Figure 4FUp, inset). Similar significant inductions in apoptosis were obtained with TUNEL (not shown) and immunocytochemistry for bak (Figure 4GUp and 4HUp). Apoptosis was undetectable in 28-day vein grafts (not shown).

Overexpression of TIMP-3 Inhibits Neointima Formation in Human and Pig Models
TIMP-3 significantly inhibited neointima formation at both days 7 (86%) and 14 (83%) after infection compared with uninfected controls (Figure 5Down, Table 2Down). Similarly, the number of neointimal cells per mm was significantly reduced in the RAdTIMP-3–treated group at both 7 and 14 days after infection, despite an increase in the neointimal proliferation index after 14 days (Table 2Down). No effect of TIMP-3 overexpression on medial cell density, medial proliferation rates, or endothelial cell coverage was observed (Table 2Down).



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Figure 5. Effect of localized overexpression of TIMP-3 on neointima formation in human saphenous vein. Representative sections from days 1 (A and D), 7 (B and E), and 14 (C and F) from uninfected (A through C) and RAdTIMP-3–infected (D through F) human saphenous veins stained with EVG. Arrows in B and C indicate intimal/medial boundary. Scale bar in A represents 25 µm and is applicable to all panels.


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Table 2. Effect of TIMP-3 Overexpression on Neointima Formation in Human Saphenous Vein Cultures

Control 28-day pig vein grafts (vehicle alone) had a consistent and pronounced neointima consisting mainly of {alpha}-actin–positive cells (Figure 6aDown). No effect on neointima formation was observed by infection with RAdlacZ (3.9±0.5 mm2 for vehicle-treated and 4.8±1.1 mm2 for RAdlacZ-treated vein grafts, n=6; Figure 6aDown, 6bDown, and 6eDown). In contrast, RAdTIMP-3 infection reduced neointima formation significantly, by 58% (2.0±0.1 mm2, P<0.05, n=6 for RAdTIMP-3–infected; Figure 6dDown and 6eDown) without affecting proliferation rates or endothelial cell coverage in day 7 or day 28 vein grafts (not shown). Surprisingly, when we investigated the effect on neointima formation of RAdTIMP-2 infection in the pig model, it was significantly less than that of TIMP-3 (6.5±1.0 mm2, P<0.05, n=6; Figure 6cDown and 6eDown). No effect of RAdTIMP-3 on medial cross-sectional area was observed (7.1±1.2, 9.9±1.8, and 8.7±1.5 mm2 for vehicle-, RAdlacZ-, and RAdTIMP-3–infected vein grafts, n=6; Figure 6fDown). Hence, intimal/medial ratio was also significantly reduced by TIMP-3 overexpression (Figure 6gDown).



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Figure 6. Quantification of neointima formation in pig saphenous vein–to–carotid artery interposition grafts. Vein grafts from day 28 after infection were stained with EVG and analyzed for neointima formation. Representative cross sections from (a) vehicle-, (b) RAdlacZ-, (c) RAdTIMP-2–, and (d) RAdTIMP-3–infected veins. Arrow indicates medial/neointimal boundary. Scale bar in a represents 100 µm and is applicable to all panels. Graphic representations show (e) neointimal areas, (f) medial areas, and (g) neointimal/medial ratios of vein grafts at day 28 after infection. *Statistical significance from both vehicle- and RAdlacZ-treated controls.


*    Discussion
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up arrowAbstract
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up arrowMethods
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*Discussion
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In an attempt to inhibit the progression of neointima formation associated with late vein graft failure, we have focused on the ability of TIMP-3 to inhibit MMP activity and promote apoptosis when overexpressed.20 To accomplish this, we used adenoviral gene transfer in 2 established models of neointima formation, namely human saphenous vein organ cultures and pig saphenous vein–to–carotid artery interposition grafts. TIMP-3 was substantially overexpressed within the ECM at the luminal surface and in the upper media. MMP activity was inhibited throughout the veins, and apoptosis was induced, especially in regions of vein grafts with high TIMP-3 immunoreactivity. TIMP-3 overexpression significantly reduced neointima formation in human and pig models.

The immunolocalization of TIMP-3 is consistent with the ability of TIMP-3 to bind to the ECM.26 TIMP-3 secreted from locally infected cells therefore binds tightly to the ECM surrounding cells at the luminal surface and in the upper media, but not substantially within the ECM of distant sites. This pattern of expression may be advantageous in the context of inhibition of neointima formation as ECM localization induces high local concentrations of the inhibitor, even in the ECM surrounding noninfected cells.

In situ zymography demonstrated the pattern of gelatinase activity in pig interposition vein grafts and its inhibition by TIMP-2 or TIMP-3 overexpression. Control pig carotid arteries had no detectable MMP activity, in agreement with findings in nondiseased human arteries.28 Low-level MMP activity, however, was detected in control saphenous vein, and this substantially increased after grafting in all areas of the graft, analyzed at day 7, in agreement with results on cultured human veins.27 MMP activity was still detected at day 28, albeit reduced and mainly restricted to the neointima. Overexpression of TIMP-2 or TIMP-3 inhibited MMP activity throughout both human veins in culture and pig veins in vivo, which demonstrates a substantial bystander effect, because only luminally exposed cells were transduced. TIMP-3 inhibition of MMPs in deeper regions of human and pig veins could occur if soluble TIMP-3 is produced after high-level overexpression, as occurs in isolated cultures.21 Under these circumstances, ECM binding of TIMP-3 may become saturated by overexpression, resulting in the generation of local levels of a soluble form of TIMP-3. Alternatively, matrix-bound TIMP-3 may act as an immobilized sink for freely released MMPs.

In direct contrast to TIMP-3, TIMP-2 failed to induce apoptosis and inhibit neointima formation in pig vein grafts in vivo. We have previously reported that overexpression of TIMP-2 inhibits neointima formation in human saphenous veins solely through inhibition of MMP activity.17 However, studies in the rat carotid artery balloon angioplasty model have demonstrated that adenovirus-mediated overexpression of TIMP-2 (or use of synthetic MMP inhibitors) blocked early migration of SMCs, although a "catch-up" effect prevented inhibition of neointima formation at later points.19 29 Our data here for TIMP-2 similarly indicate that the short-term overexpression of TIMP-2 achievable with first-generation adenoviruses is not sufficient to inhibit neointima formation in vivo. The ability of TIMP-3 to bind to the ECM prolongs its retention in the neointima even when adenovirus-mediated expression declines. This, together with the dual effect of MMP inhibition and induction of apoptosis by TIMP-3, allows effective inhibition of neointima formation in vein grafts in vivo.

Together, our data demonstrate that overexpression of TIMP-3 inhibits neointima formation in human saphenous veins in organ culture and in pig interposition grafts in vivo. The ability of TIMP-3 to inhibit MMPs and promote apoptosis, together with the bystander effect resulting from its secretion and binding to the ECM, makes TIMP-3 a highly attractive candidate for gene therapy for vein graft neointima formation.


*    Acknowledgments
 
This study was supported by the British Heart Foundation, the Medical Research Council for the UK, and the Garfield Western Foundation. We thank Jason Johnson, Catherine Keen, and Marcy Wyatt for technical assistance.

Received May 12, 1999; revision received July 28, 1999; accepted August 4, 1999.


*    References
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up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*References
 

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