P. Pauletto et al., DIFFERENTIATION AND GROWTH OF VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS IN EXPERIMENTAL-HYPERTENSION, American journal of hypertension, 7(7), 1994, pp. 661-674
In this review we have analyzed the present knowledge about the differ
entiation and growth processes in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) i
n hypertension. The study of smooth muscle (SM) and nonmuscle (NM) myo
sin isoform expression has permitted us to identify a three-stage spec
ific maturational pathway, namely, fetal, postnatal, and adult. In the
renovascular (rabbit) and genetic (rat) models of hypertension, adapt
ive changes occurring in hypertensive vessels make SMC resemble those
found in the early stages of development (smooth muscle plasticity). I
n fact, based an SM- and NM-myosin isoform distribution, postnatal-typ
e SMC predominate in the arterial media during the early remodeling of
the arterial wall that occurs in hypertension, whereas postnatal- and
fetal-type SMC predominate in the intimal thickening. Locally produce
d or activated autocrine/paracrine factors, such as growth factors or
cytokines, along with circulating hormones, seem to be involved in the
growth response or changes in the differentiation pattern of SMC. Thu
s, these factors not only play a specific role in the regulation of bl
ood pressure, but also are likely to be responsible for the remodeling
of the arterial wall in hypertension.