Effects of 17β-Estradiol on the Plasminogen Activator System in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Treated with Lysophophatidylcholine

When administered soon after menopause, hormone therapy can prevent coronary heart diseases in women. To explore the mechanism underlying the cardioprotective actions of estrogen, we investigated the effects of 17β-estradiol (17β-E₂) on the plasminogen activator system using cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).VSMCs were isolated from rat aortas. Protein expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type...