The β-blocker, Nipradilol, Directly Inhibits Cellular Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Possibly via an Activation of the Cyclic-GMP Mediated Mechanism

Abstract

We have studied the effect of Nipuradilol (Nip), a nitro-based β-blocker, on the proliferative changes of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Nip had a direct inhibitory effect on the proliferation of VSMC grown in the presence of 10% FCS through the substantial supression of DNA synthesis. This inhibitory effect of Nip was accompanied by an increase in the cyclic-GMP content of VSMC, but not by an inhibition of cellular Na⁺-H⁺ antiport. These results suggest that Nip directly inhibits VSMC proliferation, presumably via an activation of the cellular cyclic-GMP system.