Inhibition of neointimal cell bcl-x expression induces apoptosis and regression of vascular disease

We postulated that activation of a genetic program that tonically inhibits intimal cell death is a necessary condition for the pathogenesis of vascular disease. Studies of vascular lesions in humans and animal models documented increased expression of the anti-apoptotic gene product Bcl-x(L) within intimal cells. Downregulation of intimal cell bcl-x(L) expression with the use of antisense oligonucleotides induced apoptosis and acute regression of vascular lesions. These findings indicate that apoptosis regulatory genes such as bcl-x(L) are critical determinants of intimal lesion formation and that targeted apoptosis may be a novel therapy for intimal vascular disease.