Characterization of transcriptional and posttranscriptional properties of native and cultured phenotypically modulated vascular smooth muscle cells.

Various in vitro models are used for studying phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the established culture of vascular smooth muscle cells (cVSMCs) is most often used for this purpose. On the other hand, vascular interstitial cells (VICs) are native phenotypically modulated VSMCs present in blood vessels under normal physiological conditions. The aim of this work has been to compare the difference in expression of a number of VSMC-specific markers, which are commonly used for the characterisation of phenotypic modulation of VSMCs, between freshly dispersed VSMCs, VICs and cVSMCs from rat abdominal aorta.

Resident phenotypically modulated vascular smooth muscle cells in healthy human arteries.

Vascular interstitial cells (VICs) are non-contractile cells with filopodia previously described in healthy blood vessels of rodents and their function remains unknown. The objective of this study was to identify VICs in human arteries and to ascertain their role. VICs were identified in the wall of human gastro-omental arteries using transmission electron microscopy.