Objective: To determine whether balloon catheter denudation can induce vascular smooth muscle cells （VSMCs） to senescence

and whether this senescence can result in inflammation activity. Methods: Twelve male Chinese white rabbits were denuded of the carotid arteries or VSMCs. Acidic β-galactosidase activity of carotid arteries or VSMCs was detected. Transfection and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase （CAT） assay for iNOS gene and nitrite （NO2ˉ） assay were undertaken. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） was used to evaluate inflammation cytokines mRNA expression. Measurement of NF-κB activity was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay （EMSA）. MMP-9

ICAM-1

P-p65

and IκBα expressions were analyzed by Western blotting. Results: After denudation

VSMCs from denuded arteries showed an accumulation of significantly more senescence-associated β-galactosidase （SA-β-Gal） positive cells and greater iNOS activity. Transcriptional activity of iNOS was highly expressed. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β

ICAM-1

MMP-9

TNF-α and the iNOS enzyme were significantly increased in injuring-induced senescence SMCs. However

the TNF-α or IL-1β–induced the protein production （ICAM-1 and MMP-9） was prevented by PDTC and MG132

which are inhibitors of NF-κB activation. Also

activation of NF-κB and cytokine-induced degradation of IκBα in the denuded VSMC were significantly affected. Conclusion: Intraluminal injury to the artery may lead to the emergence of senescent VSMC. Inflammation activity in SMCs is closely related to the senescence and the activation of NF-κB is involved.