β1-integrin is essential for vasoregulation and smooth muscle survival in vivo.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Integrins contribute to vascular morphogenesis through regulation of adhesion and assembly of the extracellular matrix. However, the role of β1-integrin in the mature vascular wall is less clear.

Approach and results

We sought to determine the function of β1-integrin in mature smooth muscle cells in vivo using a loss of function approach by crossing a tamoxifen-inducible sm22αCre line to a floxed β1-integrin transgenic line. Adult mice lacking smooth muscle β1-integrin survived only 10 weeks post induction. The deletion of β1-integrin resulted in profound loss of vasomotor control. Histological analysis revealed progressive fibrosis in arteries with associated apoptosis of smooth muscle cells, which was not rescued by adventitial stem cells. Smooth muscle cell apop

SUBMITTER: Turlo KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3882010 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature