Cellular adhesion molecules on vascular smooth muscle cells

Several studies during the last years have shown that, in addition to endot helial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells also express the cellular adhesi on molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in atherosclerosis, restenosis and transplan t vasculopathy. In vitro studies have characterized stimulatory and inhibit ory factors that regulate the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on cultured s mooth muscle cells. Tnefe is evidence for a role of adhesion molecules on s mooth muscle cells for leukocyte accumulation and activation of mononuclear cells. Some recent data suggest that the expression of adhesion molecules on smooth muscle cells are cell cycle-dependent and influence smooth muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on sm ooth muscle cells may contribute to the inflammatory reaction in the vascul ar wall and may actively be involved in the progression and stability of at herosclerotic plaques. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.