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Drug-eluting stents have reduced, but not eliminated, the problem of restenosis after angioplasty. An international team conducted animal studies of the biology of smooth muscle cell proliferation following injury to the intima of an artery. They identified an enzyme (PDK2) that is critical to smooth muscle cell proliferation: It encourages cell division and discourages cell death. They then found a small molecule, dichloroacetate, that blocks the effects of PDK2 and stops smooth muscle cell proliferation.
Dichloroacetate was effective in preventing cell proliferation in rat aortas, rabbit iliac arteries, and pig coronary arteries. The researchers then replaced mouse aortas with human coronary artery and internal mammary artery segments. As …