Abstract: Objective To clarify the role of transmembranprotein 66(TMEM66) in neointima formation of carotid artery induced by balloon injury in rats. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=10), including control group, the left carotid artery balloon injury group and injury group added with lentiviruses, respectively. Accordingly, the neointima formations of carotid arterywere detected by H/E staining;the expressions of TMEM66 in carotid arteryinjuried by balloon.were determined by western blot,q-PCRand immunohistochemistry, and the migration and proliferation of VSMCs were measured by scratch test and CCK8, respectively. Results Compared with control group, the expression of TMEM66 in carotid artery were obviously decreased after balloon injury (P＜0.05). Most importantly, the neointima formation of carotid artery was significantly reversed by overexpression of TMEM66 via specific lentiviruses (P＜0.05). Meanwhile, it is obviously that upregulation of TMEM66 can alleviate the migration and proliferation of VSMCs by PDGF(P＜0.05). Conclusions TMEM66 is able to attenuate the neointima formation of carotid artery after balloon injury.

Key words: TMEM66, balloon injury, neointima formation