Ac. Newby et Sj. George, PROLIFERATION, MIGRATION, MATRIX TURNOVER, AND DEATH OF SMOOTH-MUSCLECELLS IN NATIVE CORONARY AND VEIN GRAFT ATHEROSCLEROSIS, Current opinion in cardiology, 11(6), 1996, pp. 574-582
Smooth muscle cells migrate into the vascular intima, proliferate, and
lay down extracellular matrix, thereby forming an important component
of the occlusive mass of atherosclerotic plaques in native arteries a
nd in saphenous vein grafts. The viability of smooth muscle cells and
the integrity of their surrounding extracellular matrix also determine
the liability of plaques to rupture and hence precipitate myocardial
infarction and vein graft occlusion. This update reviews recent develo
pments in the molecular understanding of relevant aspects of smooth mu
scle cell biology. It highlights the increasing importance attached to
interactions between growth factors and components of the extracellul
ar matrix in regulating migration and proliferation and the new roles
assigned to apoptosis in these cells. It illustrates, furthermore, how
the application of the techniques of molecular biology is identifying
new targets for conventional and gene therapy.