Effects of Lys-Glu-Trp peptide on cell-cell interactions and vascular endothelium proliferation under normal conditions and during atherosclerosis.

The molecular mechanism of atherosclerosis is based on decreased expression of signal molecules connexin (Cx37 and Cx40), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and proliferative protein Ki-67, which characterize the processes of cell-cell interactions and proliferation of vascular endotheliocytes. Lys-Glu-Trp peptide in doses of 4 and 40 μg/ml promoted recovery of Cx37, Cx40, and VEGF expression in cultured endotheliocytes from the aorta of patients with atherosclerosis, which attests to vasoprotective effects of this agent.