Publication: Stem cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and atherosclerosis
Authors
Margariti, A. ; Zeng, L. ; Xu, Q.
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Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Stem cells have the ability to differentiate
into a variety of cells to replace dead cells or to repair
tissue. Recently, accumulating evidence indicates that
mechanical forces, cytokines and other factors can
influence stem cell differentiation into vascular smooth
muscle cells (SMCs). In developmental process, SMCs
originate from several sources, which show a great
heterogenicity in different vessel walls. In adult vessels,
SMCs display a less proliferative nature, but are altered
in response to risk factors for atherosclerosis. Traditional
view on SMC origins in atherosclerotic lesions is
challenged by the recent findings that stem cells and
smooth muscle progenitors contribute to the
development of atherosclerotic lesions. Vascular
progenitor cells circulating in human blood and the
presence of adventitia in animals are recent discoveries,
but the source of these cells is still unknown. The
present review gives an update on the progress of stem
cell and SMC research in atherosclerosis, and discusses
possible mechanisms of stem/progenitor cell
differentiation that contribute to the disease process.
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Citation
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