BACKGROUNDVascular smooth muscle cell proliferation is an important process in the development of atherosclerosis and is associated with other cellular processes in atherogenesis. Telmisartan is reported to have partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ activating properties and has been referred to as selective PPAR modulators, but valsartan just blocks angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 (AT1) receptors. This study aimed to compare the different effects of telmisartan and valsartan on human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) proliferation.

METHODSAbility of telmisartan and valsartan to inhibit proliferation of HASMCs was evaluated by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) in continuous cell culture. Whether the antiproliferative effects of telmisartan and valsartan depend on their effects on AngII receptors or activating the peroxisome PPAR-γ was also investigated in this study.

RESULTSTelmisartan inhibited proliferation of HASMCs by 52.4% (P < 0.01) at the concentration of 25 µmol/L and the effect depended on the dose of telmisartan, but valsartan had little effect on HASMCs proliferation (P > 0.05) and no dose response. When tested in cells stimulated with AngII, telmisartan had the same inhibition of HASMCs by 59.2% (P < 0.05) and valsartan also inhibited it by 41.6% (P < 0.05). Telmisartan and valsartan had the same effect on down-regulating AT1 receptor expression and telmisartan was superior to valsartan up-regulating AngII type 2 (AT2) receptor expression. Antiproliferative effects of telmisartan were observed when HASMCs were treated with the PPAR-γ antagonist GW9662 but antiproliferative effects of the PPAR-γ activator pioglitazone were not observed.

CONCLUSIONSTelmisartan, but not valsartan, inhibits HASMCs proliferation and has dose-dependent response without stimulation of AngII. AT2 receptor up-regulation of telmisartan contributes to its greater antiproliferative effects than valsartan. Its PPAR-γ activation does not play a critical role in inhibiting HASMCs proliferation.