Effect of vascular stent alloys on expression of cellular adhesion molecules by endothelial cells.

Abstract

Nickel and cobalt ions activate ICAM1 expression on endothelial cells and keratinocytes. Furthermore, these ions are released in vitro and in vivo from the types of alloys used for vascular stents, but the full biological consequences of this release is not known. In the current study, we determined if release of elements from vascular stent alloys that contained nickel and cobalt was sufficient to activate expression of key cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) by endothelial cells. Expression of these CAMs is a critical step in the long-term inflammatory response to stent materials and possibly to in-stent restenonsis.