Adenosine Inhibits Growth of Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

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Abstract
Abnormal growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) is frequently associated with hypertension and atherosclerosis, and homeostasis within a normal vessel is maintained by the balanced generation of both vasoconstrictors and vasodilators. Moreover, several endogenous vasoconstricting factors induce SMC growth, whereas several vasodilators inhibit SMC growth. Inasmuch as adenosine is a potent vasodilator, it is possible that it too could inhibit SMC growth. Hence, the effects of adenosine (10−8 to 10−3 mol/L), 2-chloroadenosine (a stable analogue of adenosine; 10−8 to 10−3 mol/L), and 8-bromo-cAMP (10−8 to 10−3 mol/L) on fetal calf serum (FCS; 2.5%)–induced growth of rat aortic SMC were evaluated. Growth was analyzed by assaying DNA synthesis (thymidine incorporation in SMC pulsed for 4 hours with 1 μCi/mL [3H]thymidine) and cell proliferation (change in cell number). Growth-arrested SMC were treated with 2.5% FCS in the presence and absence of adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, or 8-bromo-cAMP for 2...