Inhibition of Smooth Muscle β-Catenin Hinders Neointima Formation After Vascular Injury.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) contribute to neointima formation after vascular injury. Although β-catenin expression is induced after injury, whether its function is essential in SMCs for neointimal growth is unknown. Moreover, although inhibitors of β-catenin have been developed, their effects on SMC growth have not been tested. We assessed the requirement for SMC β-catenin in short-term vascular homeostasis and in response to arterial injury and investigated the effects of β-catenin inhibitors on vascular SMC growth.

Approach and results

We used an inducible, conditional genetic deletion of β-catenin in SMCs of adult mice. Uninjured arteries from adult mice lacking SMC β-catenin were indistinguishable from controls in terms of structure and SMC marker gene expressio

SUBMITTER: Riascos-Bernal DF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5408313 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature