Smooth muscle expression of lipoma preferred partner is mediated by an alternative intronic promoter that is regulated by serum response factor/myocardin.

Lipoma preferred partner (LPP) was recently recognized as a smooth muscle marker that plays a role in smooth muscle cell migration. In this report, we focus on the transcriptional regulation of the LPP gene. In particular, we investigate whether LPP is directly regulated by serum response factor (SRF).

Developmental origin of smooth muscle cells in the descending aorta in mice.

Aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) have been proposed to derive from lateral plate mesoderm. It has further been suggested that induction of SMC differentiation is confined to the ventral side of the aorta, and that SMCs later migrate to the dorsal side. In this study, we investigate the origin of SMCs in the descending aorta using recombination-based lineage tracing in mice.