Modulated molecular markers of restenosis and thrombosis by in-vitro vascular cells exposed to bioresorbable scaffolds

Drug-eluting Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds (BVS) have emerged as a potential breakthrough for the treatment of coronary artery stenosis, providing mechanical support and drug delivery followed by complete resorption. Restenosis and thrombosis remain the primary limitations in clinical use. The study aimed to identify potential markers of restenosis and thrombosis analyzing the vascular wall cell transcriptomic profile modulation triggered by BVS at different values of shear stress. Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells (HCAECs) and Smooth Muscle Cells (HCASMCs) were cultured under shear stress (SS) (1 and 20 dyne/cm2) for 6 hours without and with application of BVS and Everolimus 600 nM. Cell RNA-Seq and bioinformatics analysis identified modulated genes by direct comparison of shear stress conditions and Gene Ontology (GO). The results of different experimental conditions and GO analysis highlighted the modulation of specific genes as SEMA3E (Semaphorin 3E), MEOX2 (Mesenchyme Homeobox 2), BMP4 (Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4), HMOX1 (Heme Oxygenase 1) and SELE (Selectin E), with different roles in pathological evolution of disease. Transcriptomic analysis of dynamic vascular cell cultures identifies candidate genes related to pro-restenotic and pro-thrombotic mechanisms in an in-vitro setting of BVS, which are not adequately contrasted by Everolimus addition.