Nifedipine induces apoptosis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in blood vessels is an essential process involved in the control of vessel wall structure. Several antihypertensive drugs currently used in therapy may exert their pharmacological effects by promoting SMC apoptosis. The biochemical events which regulate SMC apoptosis in the vessel wall are complex, and not well understood. We therefore investigated whether treatment of cultured SMC …