The effect of insulin and insulin-like growth factors on cell proliferation of human smooth muscle cells.

The effect of insulin and insulin like growth factors on the proliferation of cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells was investigated. Smooth muscle cells were cultivated by explanation. The effect of insulin and of an isolated serum protein fraction containing insulin like growth factors on the proliferation of human arterial smooth muscle cells was studied by incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA of the cells. Insulin stimulated in all concentrations the proliferation of the cells more than culture medium with 1% fetal calf serum. Insulin could not stimulate growth to the same degree as medium with 10% serum. On the other hand the isolated proteins had a more potent growth-promoting effect than medium with 10% serum.