Accelerated migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) enhances arterial restenosis after angioplasty in insulin resistance and diabetes. Elevation of Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) induces apoptosis in the microvasculature. However, the role of SHP-1 in intimal hyperplasia and restenosis has not been clarified in insulin resistance and diabetes.

We used a femoral artery wire injury mouse model, rodent models with insulin resistance and diabetes, and patients with type 2 diabetes. Further, we modulated SHP-1 expression using a transgenic mouse that overexpresses SHP-1 in VSMCs (Shp-1-Tg). SHP-1 agonists were also employed to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of SHP-1 by oxidised lipids.

Mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) exhibited increased femoral artery intimal hyperplasia and decreased arterial SHP-1 expression compared with mice fed a regular diet. Arterial SHP-1 expression was also decreased in Zucker fatty rats, Zucker diabetic fatty rats and in patients with type 2 diabetes. In primary cultured VSMCs, oxidised LDL suppressed SHP-1 expression by activating Mek-1 (also known as Map2k1) and increased DNA methylation of the Shp-1 promoter. VSMCs from Shp-1-Tg mice exhibited impaired platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation with a concomitant decrease in PDGF-stimulated VSMC proliferation and migration. Similarly, HFD-fed Shp-1-Tg mice and mice treated with the SHP-1 inducer, Icariside II, were protected from the development of intimal hyperplasia following wire injury.

Suppression of SHP-1 by oxidised lipids may contribute to the excessive VSMC proliferation, inflammatory cytokine production and intimal hyperplasia observed in arteries from diabetes and insulin resistance. Augmenting SHP-1 levels is a potential therapeutic strategy to maintain stent patency in patients with insulin resistance and diabetes.