Arterial Mechanics, Extracellular Matrix, and Smooth Muscle Differentiation in Carotid Arteries Deficient for Rac1.

ABSTRACT: Stiffening of the extracellular matrix (ECM) occurs after vascular injury and contributes to the injury-associated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). ECM stiffness also activates Rac-GTP, and SMC Rac1 deletion strongly reduces the proliferative response to injury in vivo. While these results strongly implicate Rac in the stiffness-dependent SMC proliferation, ECM stiffening and Rac also affect SMC differentiation, which, in itself, can influence cell stiffness and proliferation. Here, we used immunofluorescence analysis and pressure myography of mouse carotid arteries to interrogate the effect of in vivo Rac1 deletion on SMC differentiation and arterial stiffness. The results show that medial abundance of alpha-smooth muscle actin or smooth muscle-myosin he

SUBMITTER: Assoian RK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12393824 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature