reviewPhysiological ReviewsSep 28, 2017Closed access

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Arterial Stiffening: Relevance in Development, Aging, and Disease

Délégation Paris 5 · Inserm · +4 more institutions

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

The cushioning function of large arteries encompasses distension during systole and recoil during diastole which transforms pulsatile flow into a steady flow in the microcirculation. Arterial stiffness, the inverse of distensibility, has been implicated in various etiologies of chronic common and monogenic cardiovascular diseases and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The first components that contribute to arterial stiffening are extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that support the mechanical load, while the second important components are vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which not only regulate actomyosin interactions for contraction but mediate also mechanotransduction in cell-ECM…

No related works found for this paper.

Funding