| abstract |
A method for treating or preventing cardiovascular pathologies by administering a compound of the formula (1): n n n wherein Z is C═O or a covalent bond; Y is H or O(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl, R 1 and R 2 are individually (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl or together with N are a saturated heterocyclic group, R 3 is ethyl or chloroethyl, R 4 is H or together with R 3 is —CH 2 CH 2 — or —S—, R 5 is I, O(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl or H, and R 6 is I, O(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl or H with the proviso that when R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 are H, R 3 is not ethyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, effective to activate or stimulate production of TGF-beta to treat and/or prevent conditions such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke is provided. Useful compounds include idoxifene and salts thereof. Further provided is a method for identifying a compound that is a TGF-beta activator or production stimulator is provided. Another embodiment of the invention is an assay or kit to determine TGF-beta in vitro. Also provided is a therapeutic method comprising inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation associated with procedural vascular trauma employing the administration of tamoxifen or structural analogs thereof, including compounds of formula (I). |