Smooth Muscle Stiffness Sensitivity is Driven by Soluble and Insoluble ECM Chemistry.

ABSTRACT: Smooth muscle cell (SMC) invasion into plaques and subsequent proliferation is a major factor in the progression of atherosclerosis. During disease progression, SMCs experience major changes in their microenvironment, such as what integrin-binding sites are exposed, the portfolio of soluble factors available, and the elasticity and modulus of the surrounding vessel wall. We have developed a hydrogel biomaterial platform to examine the combined effect of these changes on SMC phenotype. We were particularly interested in how the chemical microenvironment affected the ability of SMCs to sense and respond to modulus. To our surprise, we observed that integrin binding and soluble factors are major drivers of several critical SMC behaviors, such as motility, proliferation, invasion, and differen

SUBMITTER: Herrick WG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4610395 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature