The transition of smooth muscle cells from a contractile to a migratory, phagocytic phenotype: direct demonstration of phenotypic modulation.

ABSTRACT:

Key points

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) phenotypic conversion from a contractile to a migratory phenotype is proposed to underlie cardiovascular disease but its contribution to vascular remodelling and even its existence have recently been questioned. Tracking the fate of individual SMCs is difficult as no specific markers of migratory SMCs exist. This study used a novel, prolonged time-lapse imaging approach to continuously track the behaviour of unambiguously identified, fully differentiated SMCs. In response to serum, highly-elongated, contractile SMCs initially rounded up, before spreading and migrating and these migratory cells displayed clear phagocytic activity. This study provides a direct demonstration of the transition of fully contractile SMCs to a non-contractile, migratory

SUBMITTER: Sandison ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5088226 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature