Succinobucol induces apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells

Probucol inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro and in vivo, and the drug reduces intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis in animals via induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Because the succinyl ester of probucol, succinobucol, recently failed as an antiatherogenic drug in humans, we investigated its effects on smooth muscle cell proliferation. Succinobucol and probucol induced HO-1 and decreased cell proliferation in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. However, whereas inhibition of HO-1 reversed the antiproliferative effects of probucol, this was not observed with succinobucol. Instead, succinobucol but not probucol induced caspase activity and apoptosis, and it increased mitochondrial oxidation of hydroethidine to ethidium, suggestive of the participation of H2O2 and cytochrome c. Also, succinobucol but not probucol converted cytochrome c into a peroxidase in the presence of H2O2, and succinobucol-induced apoptosis was decreased in cells that lacked cytochrome c or a functional mitochondrial complex II. In addition, succinobucol increased apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells in vivo after balloon angioplasty-mediated vascular injury. Our results suggest that succinobucol induces apoptosis via a pathway involving mitochondrial complex II, H2O2, and cytochrome c. These unexpected results are discussed in light of the failure of succinobucol as an antiatherogenic drug in humans.

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► The succinyl ester of probucol, succinobucol, has failed as an antiatherogenic drug.
► Probucol and succinobucol inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell growth differently.
► Succinobucol induces apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro and in vivo.
► Succinobucol increases mitochondrial oxidants and converts cytochrome c into a peroxidase.
► Succinobucol induces apoptosis dependent on mitochondrial complex II and cytochrome c.