The vascular smooth muscle cell in arterial pathology: a cell that can take on multiple roles

• Published in: Cardiovascular research Vol. 95; no. 2; pp. 194 - 204
• Main Authors: Lacolley, Patrick, Regnault, Véronique, Nicoletti, Antonino, Li, Zhenlin, Michel, Jean-Baptiste
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 15.07.2012
• Subjects: Angiotensin Amide - metabolism; Animals; Arteries - metabolism; Arteries - pathology; Atherosclerosis - metabolism; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Cellular Senescence; Humans; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - cytology; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Signal Transduction - physiology

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the stromal cells of the vascular wall, continually exposed to mechanical signals and biochemical components generated in the blood compartment. They are involved in all the physiological functions and the pathological changes taking place in the vascular wal...