Atherosclerosis is a progressive condition in which fibro fatty plaques form in blood vessels eventually decreases in lumen size and blood flow through the blood vessel.
Balloon angioplasty is a popular treatment developed to treat atheroscierosis.
However, it is known that the loss of lumen is the result of decrease in the cross sectional area of the artery, but not an increase in intimal area. It has been shown that the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 MMP9 may prevent the decrease in lumen area in the injured rat carotid artery normally observed over a 2 week period. To study the effect of overexpression of MMP9 on negative remodeling, a collagen gel contraction model model is used. SMC cells that expresses MMP9 and cells that don't are cultured and suspended in separate collagen gels and the extent of contractions will be measured and contrasted. If the overexpression of MMP9 decreases collagen gel contraction, the mechanism of this effect will be investigated by determining the role of hyaluronate and CD44.