Effect of cigarette smoke components on vascular smooth muscle cell migration toward platelet-derived growth factor BB.

Cigarette smoking is one of the factors causing accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerotic plaques. Changes in cell migration toward platelet-derived growth factor BB were investigated using a Boyden chamber after 48-h preincubation of GBaSM-4 VSMCs with nicotine or nicotine-free cigarette smoke extract (CSE). A nicotine concentration of 0.1 μM maximally promoted cell migration; 0.1% CSE also promoted cell migration, while high CSE concentrations damaged GBaSM-4 cells. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) long-depletion induced decrease in migration of GBaSM-4 cells. Our results suggest that nicotine and some CSE components can induce GBaSM-4 cell migration.