Rosiglitazone reduces serum homocysteine levels, smooth muscle proliferation, and intimal hyperplasia in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high methionine diet

After balloon catheter injury to the carotid artery of animals on a high methionine diet, there was an increase in the rate of development of intimal hyperplasia consistent with the known effects of Hcy. It is demonstrated for the first time that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist rosiglitazone can attenuate the Hcy-stimulated increase in the rate of development of intimal hyperplasia indirectly by increasing the rate of catabolism of Hcy by cystathionine-β-synthase and directly by inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. These findings may have important implications for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and events in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy).