Adult Vascular Wall Resident Multipotent Vascular Stem Cells, Matrix Metalloproteinases, and Arterial Aneurysms

• Published in: Stem Cells International Vol. 2015; no. 2015; pp. 769 - 784-069
• Main Authors: Serra, Raffaele, de Franciscis, Stefano, Naso, Agostino, Rossi, Alessio, Butrico, Lucia, Grande, Raffaele, Amato, Maurizio, Compagna, Rita, Amato, Bruno, Ruggiero, Michele
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01.01.2015; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Aneurysms; Angiogenesis; Bone marrow; Disease; Extracellular matrix; Immunoglobulins; Kinases; Physiology; Review; Smooth muscle; Stem cells; Studies; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Vascular endothelial growth factor
• ISSN: 1687-966X; 1687-9678; 1687-9678
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/434962

Evidences have shown the presence of multipotent stem cells (SCs) at sites of arterial aneurysms: they can differentiate into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and are activated after residing in a quiescent state in the vascular wall. Recent studies have implicated the role of matrix metalloproteinases in the pathogenesis of arterial aneurysms: in fact the increased synthesis of MMPs by arterial SMCs is thought to be a pivotal mechanism in aneurysm formation. The factors and signaling pathways involved in regulating wall resident SC recruitment, survival, proliferation, growth factor production, and differentiation may be also related to selective expression of different MMPs. This review explores the relationship between adult vascular wall resident multipotent vascular SCs, MMPs, and arterial aneurysms.