Objective      To observe the effect of caveolae on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).        Methods      The third generation of VSMCs were cultured in vitro

and were incubated with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) for 2 h. The VSMCs without any treatment were served as blank control. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Caveolin-1 and pSmad2 in VSMCs were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting

and the distribution of in Caveolin-1 and pSmad2 in VSMCs

was detected by immunohistochemistry. The proliferative rate of VSMCs was analyzed with CCK-8 assay.       Results      Caveolin-1 was highly expressed in cell membrane and nucleus. After MβCD treatment

the mRNA and protein expression levels of Caveolin-1 were significantly lower as compared with the control group (

P

0.01)

while the mRNA and protein expression levels of pSmad2 were significantly higher (

P

0.01). The expression of TGF-βR1 was increased in cell nucleus after MβCD interference.       Conclusion      Destruction of caveolae can suppress the proliferation of VSMC through enhancing TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.