Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) alleviates vascular restenosis after balloon injury in a rabbit carotid artery model.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is used commonly for coronary artery disease (CAD); however, restenosis is a proliferative response and frequent sequela to this treatment. Although the introduction of drug-eluting stents has convincingly reduced the incidence of vascular restenosis, restenosis remains a problem. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on restenosis formation after balloon injury in a rabbit carotid artery model.