Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerosis and the Latest Research
Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are found in many organs, including the GI tract, uterus, bladder, and vasculature. In particular, vascular SMCs (VSMCs) are found within vessel walls, and their contractile function is critical for maintaining appropriate blood pressure and flow. There is extensive crosstalk between VSMCs and factors within the blood that regulate the differentiation status of VSMCs. In addition, VSMCs can proliferate and migrate to sites of damage to initiate repair.
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which a buildup of plaques forms within the arteries, causing complications that may lead to a heart attack or stroke. One of the factors that contributes to atherosclerosis is a high level of lipids in the blood, which creates an inflammatory environment, in turn altering VSMCs to become proatherosclerotic. Therefore, VSMCs are critical players in homeostatic maintenance within the vasculature.
Research Studies Using Lifeline® Human Bronchial/Tracheal and Aortic SMCs
Annulate lamellae are membranous organelles whose function is relatively unknown. Raghunayakula et al. investigated mechanisms surrounding the function of annulate lamellae pore complexes (ALPCs), structures similar to nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) that allow transport. Given the similarity between ALPCs and NPCs, the authors of this study set out to discover whether these two pore types utilized similar cellular machinery. They found that RanGAP1, an important nuclear transport protein, was present at ALPCs in multiple mammalian cell types. Interestingly, Lifeline® human bronchial/tracheal smooth muscle cells expressed the highest number of ALPCs of all the cell types tested, suggesting these cells are useful for studying ALPCs.
Additionally, the researchers found that RanGAP1 localization at ALPCs is dependent on its SUMOylation (a post-translational modification) and interaction with RanBP2. Finally, they found that induction of annulate lamellae resulted in redistribution of RanGAP1 complexes from NPCs to ALPCs, which was coincident with a decreased rate of nuclear transport. Together, the results of this study contribute to the limited knowledge of annulate lamellae and ALPCs, defining the cellular components that are important for the proper function of these organelles.
Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) has multiple effects on SMCs of the artery wall and may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In a 2015 study, Cheng et al. set out to determine the effects of ox-LDL on the expression of the (pro)renin receptor (PRR), activation of which has been implicated in atherosclerosis. Using Lifeline® Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells (HASMCs), the researchers found that PRR expression increased following ox-LDL treatment (50-100 mg/dL), suggesting that ox-LDL may be a factor that influences PRR expression during atherosclerosis development.
Lifeline® Smooth Muscle Cells
Lifeline® provides smooth muscle cells from the following primary tissue sites:
All SMC types are optimally grown in VascuLife® SMC medium.
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