METHODS OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF RESTENOSIS

摘要

The present invention describes methods of treating or preventing restenosis, vascular injury, and vascular disease in a subject by administering TIMP-4. The inventors have surprisingly found that TIMP-4 has an important role in the accumulation of the extracellular matrix in a vessel wall and as such facilitates the healing process of an injured vessel. Also provided by the present invention is a method of inhibiting migration of smooth muscle cells, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, by introducing to the cell an amount of TIMP-4 effective to inhibit the migration, as well as inhibiting extracellular matrix degradation of a vessel, such as an artery, vein or capillary, by introducing TIMP-4 to the vessel.