Method for identifying an agent which increases TGF-beta levels

A method for identifying an agent which increases the level of TGF-beta in a human comprising:

• (a) contacting cultured explant human aortic smooth muscle cells (hVSMC) with said agent in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit the rate of proliferation of said cells;
• (b) contacting said hVSMC resulting from step (a) with a moiety which specifically binds to TGF-beta in an amount effective to block the binding of TGF-beta to the TGF-beta receptors of said hVSMC and determining the rate of proliferation;
• and
• (c) determining whether the rate of proliferation of said hVSMC resulting from step (b) is increased relative to the rate of proliferation of the hVSMC which are contacted with said agent in step (a).