Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) has been reported to attenuate intimal hyperplasia. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that PPARγ inhibits intimal hyperplasia through suppressing Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated inflammation in vascular smooth muscle cells.

TLR4 ^−/− mice on a C57BL/6J background were used. Increased TLR4 and pro-inflammatory cytokines were observed in wire-injury-induced carotid neointima and in platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-activated vascular smooth muscle cells. The TLR4 deficiency protected the injured carotid from neointimal formation and impaired the cellular proliferation and migration in response to lipopolysaccharide and PDGF. Rosiglitazone attenuated intimal hyperplasia. Overexpression of PPARγ suppressed PDGF-induced proliferation and migration and inhibited TLR4-mediated inflammation in vascular smooth muscle cells, while PPARγ silencing exerted the opposite effect. Lipopolysaccharide counteracted the inhibitory effect of PPARγ on PDGF-induced proliferation and migration. Eritoran suppressed the proliferation and migration induced by PDGF and PPARγ silencing. Vascular smooth muscle cells derived from TLR4^−/− mice showed impaired proliferation and migration upon PDGF activation and displayed no response to PPARγ manipulation.

PPARγ inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration by suppressing TLR4-mediated inflammation and ultimately attenuates intimal hyperplasia after carotid injury.