Publications by authors named "R P Mecham"
Article Synopsis
- Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms have different genetic and clinical characteristics, which can be better understood using single-cell RNA sequencing rather than traditional bulk RNA methods that average gene expression across all cells.* -
- Analysis of single-cell datasets identified three distinct populations of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in aortic tissues, with a significantly higher proportion of a unique SMC group in TAA compared to AAA.* -
- Certain genes linked to extracellular matrix organization and insulin-like growth factor transport were found to be upregulated in TAA SMCs, suggesting these may play a role in the development of TAAs; further studies are needed to explore these pathways.*
Background: Latent TGFβ binding protein-2 (LTBP2) is a fibrillin 1 binding component of the microfibril. LTBP2 is the only LTBP protein that does not bind any isoforms of TGFβ, although it may interfere with the function of other LTBPs or interact with other signaling pathways.
Results: Here, we investigate mice lacking Ltbp2 (Ltbp2 ) and identify multiple phenotypes that impact bodyweight and fat mass, and affect bone and skin development.
Article Synopsis
- * Research on mice shows that the adaptability of arterial material properties changes between types of arteries, with the ascending aorta being more flexible than the carotid artery as they age.
- * Findings indicate that sex differences influence how arterial properties change, and strong correlations exist between ECM composition and biomechanical parameters, potentially informing personalized treatments for arterial stiffening.
Article Synopsis
- - This study investigates how phosphatidylserine (PS) affects the Kir2.1 potassium channel, which plays a key role in vasodilation within resistance arteries.
- - Researchers found that PS is located in specific myoendothelial junctions (MEJs) and that it can compete with another lipid, PIP2, for binding to Kir2.1, thus impacting the channel's function.
- - Electrophysiology experiments showed that PS inhibits PIP2's ability to activate Kir2.1, and in mouse models lacking normal MEJs, this inhibition is lifted, leading to increased arterial dilation.