Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Biology
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CGRP immunoreactivity in rat mesenteric arteries |
Contraction and relaxation of vascular smooth muscle cells in the blood vessel wall result in changes in diameter and compliance of the blood vessel. This process is subject to multi-faceted control mechanisms designed to maintain appropriate blood flow to organs and muscle. Diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, restenosis, diabetes and renal pathologies may affect these control mechanisms resulting in altered vasoreactivity and inappropriate migration and growth of vascular smooth muscle cells that eventually lead to blood vessel thickening and occlusion. Cellular and molecular approaches are used to define the intracellular mechanisms regulating cell contraction, motility, and growth, and to learn how these functions are modulated by extrinsic factors, such as extracellular matrix, blood borne vasoactive substances or the vasodilator nitric oxide that is produced in vascular endothelium. Thus, basic research studies using experimental models of cultured smooth muscle, isolated perfused arteries, together with transgenic mouse models and animal models of blood vessel injury are carried out with the ultimate goal of improving therapies to control vascular diseases.
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