Extensive Proliferation of a Subset of Differentiated, yet Plastic, Medial Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Contributes to Neointimal Formation in Mouse Injury and Atherosclerosis Models.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) accumulation is a hallmark of atherosclerosis and vascular injury. However, fundamental aspects of proliferation and the phenotypic changes within individual VSMCs, which underlie vascular disease, remain unresolved. In particular, it is not known whether all VSMCs proliferate and display plasticity or whether individual cells can switch to multiple phenotypes.

Objective

To assess whether proliferation and plasticity in disease is a general characteristic of VSMCs or a feature of a subset of cells.

Methods and results

Using multicolor lineage labeling, we demonstrate that VSMCs in injury-induced neointimal lesions and in atherosclerotic plaques are oligoclonal, derived from few expanding cells. Lineage tracing also revealed

SUBMITTER: Chappell J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5149073 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature