Kindlin-2 siRNA inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration and intimal hyperplasia via Wnt signaling.

It is known that vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration leads to intimal hyperplasia in cases of atherosclerosis and restenosis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of kindlin-2 on VSMC proliferation, migration and intimal hyperplasia, and the underlying mechanisms. The left common carotid artery of Sprague‑Dawley rats were subjected to balloon injury in order to induce intimal hyperplasia, and then transfected with kindlin-2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) lentivirus or negative control siRNA lentivirus. We noted that the degree of intimal hyperplasia 4 weeks after balloon injury was significantly reduced in arteries transfected with kindlin-2 siRNA lentivirus (P<0.05). In vitro, kindlin-2 siRNA suppressed VSMC proliferation and migration induced by Wnt3a (100 ng/ml). Western blot analyses and RT-qPCR revealed that kindlin-2 regulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling and thereby modulated the expression of β-catenin target genes, including c-myc and cyclin D1. This study demonstrated that kindlin-2 plays a critical role in VSMC proliferation, migration and intimal hyperplasia via Wnt signaling. Therefore, blocking the activity of kindlin-2 represents a novel therapeutic strategy for vascular injury.