Molecular aspects of anti-atherosclerotic effects of short peptides.

We studied molecular mechanisms of the vasoprotective effects of tripeptide T-38 and dipeptide RR-1. Short peptides T-38 and the RR-1 activate the processes of cell renewal in organotypic and dissociated cultures of vascular cells during aging by increasing the expression of Ki-67 and reducing the synthesis of p53 protein. T-38 and RR-1 reduce the synthesis of E-selectin, adhesion molecule involved in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.