Vascular smooth muscle cells can perform both contractile and synthetic functions, which
are associated with and characterised by changes in morphology, proliferation and …

The molecular regulation of smooth muscle cell (SMC) behavior is reviewed, with particular
emphasis on stimuli that promote the contractile phenotype. SMCs can shift reversibly along …

Smooth muscle cell migration occurs during vascular development, in response to vascular
injury, and during atherogenesis. Many proximal signals and signal transduction pathways …

The adventitial layer surrounding the blood vessels has long been exclusively considered a
supporting tissue the main function of which is to provide adequate nourishment to the …

PURPOSE: The development of an altered stromal microenvironment in response to
carcinoma is a common feature of many tumors. We reviewed the literature describing …

During atheromatous plaque formation or restenosis after angioplasty, smooth muscle cells
(SMCs) migrate from the media toward the intima, where they proliferate and undergo …

Severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, whether idiopathic or secondary, is characterized
by structural alterations of microscopically small pulmonary arterioles. The vascular lesions …

Mature airway smooth muscle cells are characterized by a low proliferative index and
expression of contractile marker proteins such as smooth muscle α-actin (sm-α-actin) …

Morphological, functional, molecular and cell biology studies have revealed a striking
multifunctional nature of individual smooth muscle cells (SMC). SMCs manifest phenotypic …

Scavenger receptors were originally defined by their ability to bind and internalize modified
lipoproteins. Macrophages express at least six structurally different cell surface receptors for …