XIAOSU SONG, FEN GAO, HONG LI, WEIWEI QIN, CHANJUAN CHAI, GUOJUAN SHI, HUIYU YANG^*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.4, pp. 849-858, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.026545

Abstract Background: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) undergo a conversion from a contractile phenotype to a proliferative synthetic phenotype, contributing to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Semaphorin 7A (SEMA7A) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein that plays an important role in vascular homeostasis by regulating endothelial cell behaviors. However, the expression and role of SEMA7A in VSMCs remain unclear.Methods: In this study, we screened for VSMC-regulating genes in publicly available datasets and analyzed the expression of SEMA7A in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (hCASMCs) treated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). The effects of SEMA7A overexpression and knockdown on hCASMC proliferation and… More >

Norma Risler, Claudia Castro, Montserrat Cruzado, Susana González, Roberto Miatello

BIOCELL, Vol.27, No.2, pp. 189-196, 2003, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2003.27.189

Abstract Remodeling of large and small arteries contributes to the development and complications of hypertension. Artery structural changes in chronic sustained hypertension include vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) modifications. Extracellular constituents such as proteoglycans (PGs), may modulate vascular stiffness and VSMC growth and differentiation. We examined the effect of growth factors on secreted and membrane-bound PGs synthesis by cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) from 12- to 14- week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched Wistar rats. After stimulation with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) or 0.1% FCS as control, PGs synthesis… More >

M. Cruzado, C. Castro, N. Risler, R. Miatello

BIOCELL, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 61-67, 2002, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2002.26.061

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) generation by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), may play a role in blood vessel tone regulation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced iNOS activity and subsequent nitrite production by cultured aortic VSMC, from SHR with an established chronic blood pressure elevation (adult SHR) or during the period preceding the development of hypertension (young SHR) and from age-matched normotensive Wistar (W) rats were compared. Angiotensin II (Ang II) effect was also evaluated. Both basal LPS-induced iNOS activity and nitrite accumulation were significantly lower in young SHR VSMC compared to young W rat cells. In… More >

Qian Xiao¹, Xia Tang¹, Yuanxiu Chen¹, Han Bao¹, Lizhi Gao^1,2, Xiaobo Gong^3,*, Ping Zhang^1,4,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, No.3, pp. 199-210, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07107

Abstract Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), a 39-amino acid peptide hormone, has been reported in the appreciation of the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), however, the mechanism in molecular scale supporting the appreciation remains to be elucidated. In this study, we observed that the protein expression levels of ACTH at 24 h after exposure to 15% cyclic stretch were significantly higher than that after 5% cyclic stretch. When VSMCs were treated with 1000 nM ACTH directly, Oct-1 and lamin B1 expression were both up-regulated associating with each other, and the presence of Oct-1 was found shuttling between the cytosol and nucleus.… More >

Ruikai Chen¹, Delphine Dean^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 153-169, 2017, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2017.014.153

Abstract Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play an important role in regulating blood flow and pressure by contracting and relaxing in response to a variety of mechanical stimuli. A fully differentiated and functional VSMC should have both the ability to contract and relax in response to environmental stimuli. In addition, it should have the proper mechanical properties to sustain the mechanically active vascular environment. Stem cells can differentiate towards VSMC lineages and so could be used as a potential treatment for vascular repair. However, few studies have assessed the time it takes for stems cells to acquire similar mechanical property to… More >

Kyle Kurpinski^1,2,3, Jennifer Park^1,2,3, Rahul G. Thakar^1,2,3, Song Li^1,2

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 21-34, 2006, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2006.003.021

Abstract Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) populate in the media of the blood vessel, and play an important role in the control of vasoactivity and the remodeling of the vessel wall. Blood vessels are constantly subjected to hemodynamic stresses, and the pulsatile nature of the blood flow results in a cyclic mechanical strain in the vessel walls. Accumulating evidence in the past two decades indicates that mechanical strain regulates vascular SMC phenotype, function and matrix remodeling. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is a potential cell source for vascular regeneration therapy, and may be used to generate SMCs to construct tissue-engineered… More >