All-trans and 9-cis retinoid acids inhibit proliferation, migration, and synthesis of extracellular matrix of human vascular smooth muscle cells by inducing differentiation in vitro.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 9-cis retinoid acid (9-cis RA) and all-trans RA (ATRA) on proliferation, migratory ability, synthesis of extracellular matrix, intracellular signal transduction, and differentiation of human aortic smooth muscle cells (haSMCs) in vitro. Changes of cell proliferation following incubation with RAs in different doses (10-6 M, 10-7 M, and 10-8 M) were determined directly by proliferation kinetics and indirectly by bromodeoxyuridine enzyme-linked immuno sorbant assays and colony-formation assays. The migratory ability of haSMCs was examined with the help of migration assays.