THERAPEUTIC INHIBITOR OF VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS

摘要

Sustained release dosage forms of TGF-beta activators and TGF-beta production stimulators are employed to maintain or increase vessel lumen diameter in a diseased or injured vessel of a mammal. Conditions such as restenosis following angioplasty, vascular byp ass grafts, transplanted organs, atherosclerosis or hypertension are characterized by a reduced vessel lumen diameter. In a preferred em bodiment of the invention, TGF-beta activators and production stimulator inhibit abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells. Free TGF-beta activators or production stimulator that are not characterized by an undesirable systemic toxicity profile at a prophylactic dose ma y be used in conjunction with the sustained release dosage forms described herein for prophylactic purposes with respect to disease and trauma states involving proliferation and/or migration of vascular smooth muscle cells over time.