Objectives: Characterize the phenotypic features of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the wall of human saccular intracranial aneurysms (sIAs).
Methods And Results: We investigated by means of immunohistochemistry the expression of the cytoskeletal differentiation markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), smooth muscle myosin heavy chains (SMMHCs), and smoothelin in 26 sIAs and 15 nonaneurysmal cerebral arteries. In addition, S100A4, a recently identified marker of dedifferentiated SMCs in atherosclerotic plaques, was also investigated. Six sIAs and 5 nonaneurysmal arteries were used for morphometric analysis. sIAs displayed a significant medial atrophy compared with nonaneurysmal cerebral arteries; moreover, sIA SMCs showed marked decrease of α-SMA and SMMHCs expression and disappearance of smoothelin. Unexpectedly, S100A4 was strongly up-regulated in media SMCs of sIAs.
Conclusions: In sIAs, media SMCs acquire a dedifferentiated phenotype and show de novo expression of S100A4, characteristic features of atherosclerotic plaque SMCs.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carpath.2013.01.083 | DOI Listing |
Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
December 2024
Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Physio-Pharmacology (LEFFAG), Federal University of Ceará, Coronel Nunes de Melo Street, 1315 Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza 60416-030, CE, Brazil.
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolite widely prescribed in cancer treatments, but its use in highly proliferative tissues can cause significant problems such as mucositis. is a probiotic commonly used for protection against acute diarrhea, gastrointestinal dysbiosis and inflammatory bowel diseases. We investigated the effect of on 5-FU intestinal mucositis in mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
Department of Pharmacology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Republic of Korea.
Calcium deposition in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), a form of ectopic ossification in blood vessels, can result in rigidity of the vasculature and an increase in cardiac events. Here, we report that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) potentiates calcium deposition in VSMCs and mouse aorta induced by inorganic phosphate (Pi) or vitamin D. Based on cDNA microarray and RNA sequencing data of Pi-treated rat VSMCs, C/EBPβ was found to be upregulated and thus selected for further evaluation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Med
December 2024
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University General Hospital, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Aortic aneurysm, the pathological dilatation of the aorta at distinct locations, can be attributed to many different genetic and environmental factors. The resulting pathobiological disturbances generate a complex interplay of processes affecting cells and extracellular molecules of the tunica interna, media and externa. In short, aortic aneurysm can affect processes involving the extracellular matrix, lipid trafficking/atherosclerosis, vascular smooth muscle cells, inflammation, platelets and intraluminal thrombus formation, as well as various endothelial functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
December 2024
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rostock University Medical Center, Schillingallee 70, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
Endocannabinoids have been shown to play a complex role in the pathophysiology of a number of cardiovascular disorders. In the present study, the effects of the two major endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) were investigated in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMC) and human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) with regard to potential atheroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. In HCASMC, AEA showed an inhibitory effect on platelet-derived growth factor-induced migration, but not proliferation, independent of major cannabinoid-activatable receptors (CB, CB, TRPV1), while 2-AG left both responses unaffected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
December 2024
Institute of Clinical Physiology IFC-CNR, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Background: Vascular calcification (VC) is a dynamic, tightly regulated process driven by cellular activity and resembling the mechanisms of bone formation, with specific molecules playing pivotal roles in its progression. We aimed to investigate the involvement of the bone morphogenic proteins (, , , and ) system in this process. Our study used an advanced in vitro model that simulates the biological environment of the vascular wall, assessing the ability of a phosphate mixture to induce the osteoblastic switch in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs).
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