What is atherosclerosis SMC?
Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are the primary cell type in the pre-atherosclerotic intima, a state known as diffuse intimal thickening (DIT), and in all stages of human atherosclerotic plaque development.1 SMCs are not terminally differentiated and can change their phenotype in response to environmental cues including …
What does smooth muscle proliferation mean?
Proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) represents an important event in vascular lesion formation. Despite the common belief that growth factors contribute to the development of the atherosclerotic plaque, until now there has been no direct evidence for a role of mitogens in the development of arterial lesions.
What is ECM in atherosclerosis?
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential component of the human body that is responsible for the proper function of various organs. Changes in the ECM have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular conditions including atherosclerosis, restenosis, and heart failure.
What is VSMCs?
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) constitute the major cells in the media layer of arteries, and are critical to maintain the integrity of the arterial wall. They participate in arterial wall remodeling, and play important roles in atherosclerosis throughout all stages of the disease.
What are the steps of atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the pathologic process by which cholesterol and calcium plaque accumulate within the arterial wall.
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The working theory includes four steps:
- Endothelial cell injury.
- Lipoprotein deposition.
- Inflammatory reaction.
- Smooth muscle cell cap formation.
What causes atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. Risk factors may include high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical activity, and eating saturated fats.
What causes smooth muscle cell proliferation?
After injury, there is deposition of platelets that release platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and other mitogenic factors that penetrate the vascular wall and trigger medial vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration.
What is VSMC proliferation?
Introduction. Excess proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) results in vascular remodelling and serves a key role in several vascular disorders, including restenosis (1,2), atherosclerosis (3) and pulmonary artery hypertension (4).
What is smooth muscle cell?
At a cellular level, smooth muscle can be described as an involuntary, non-striated muscle. Smooth muscle consists of thick and thin filaments that are not arranged into sarcomeres giving it a non-striated pattern. On microscopic examination, it will appear homogenous.
What is the best treatment for atherosclerosis?
Treatment
- Statins and other cholesterol drugs. Aggressively lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the “bad” cholesterol — can slow, stop or even reverse the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries.
- Aspirin.
- Blood pressure medications.
- Other medications.
What is the first stage in atherosclerosis?
Stage 1: Endothelial damage and immune response
Atherosclerosis begins when damage occurs to the inner layer of your artery wall. This layer is called the intima. The surface of your intima is lined with endothelial cells. This thin lining, called the endothelium, is the barrier between your blood and your artery wall.
Can atherosclerosis be cured?
Bits of plaque can break loose and cause blood clots that may lead to heart attack or stroke. There is currently no cure for atherosclerosis, but the condition can be slowed with statin drugs and dietary changes.
What diseases affect smooth muscle cells?
Core tip: Multisystem smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome (MSMDS) is a genetic disease that is clinically characterized by dysfunction of the smooth muscle throughout the whole body, leading to congenital fixed dilated pupils, patent ductus arteriosus, aortic and cerebrovascular disease, hypotonic bladder, intestinal …
Can smooth muscle grow?
The increase in smooth muscle mass may be due to hypertrophy (an increase in cell size), hyperplasia (an increase of cell number), or an increase in extracellular matrix. Hypertrophy of smooth muscle cells and increase in extracellular matrix are reportedly responsible for hypertrophic pyloric muscle in IHPS(7–9).
What is the process of atherogenesis?
Atherogenesis is the process of atherosclerotic plaque formation, leading to coronary artery heart disease. This process involves immune cells, mainly T and B cells, monocytes and macrophages. The process of atherogenesis is induced by inflammatory damage of endothelial cells.
What are two types of smooth muscle?
Smooth muscle consists of two types: single-unit and multi-unit. Single-unit smooth muscle consists of multiple cells connected through connexins that can become stimulated in a synchronous pattern from only one synaptic input.
What are the types of smooth muscle?
Types of Smooth muscle
Smooth muscles are of two types. They are: Single-unit (visceral) smooth muscle: All the cells function collectively and simultaneously as a single unit (unitary). Multiunit smooth muscle: It is a type of muscle in which all the cells cannot function collectively and work independently.
How long can you live with atherosclerosis?
Plaque buildup can take away years of life, especially for people who have complications. For example, a heart attack takes away more than 16 years of life on average. People with heart failure lose an average of nearly 10 years. Everyone can take steps to adopt heart-healthy living.
What is the best treatment of atherosclerosis?
How do doctors treat atherosclerosis?
Medicines that may be used to treat atherosclerosis include: Antiplatelet medicines. These are medicines used to decrease the ability of platelets in the blood to stick together and cause clots. Aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, and dipyridamole are examples of antiplatelet medicines.
What causes smooth muscle growth?
What is the function of a smooth muscle cell?
The primary function of smooth muscle is contraction. Smooth muscle consists of two types: single-unit and multi-unit. Single-unit smooth muscle consists of multiple cells connected through connexins that can become stimulated in a synchronous pattern from only one synaptic input.
Can smooth muscle repair itself?
Smooth muscle tissue can regenerate from stem cells called pericytes, cells found in some small blood vessels. These allow smooth muscle cells to regenerate and repair much more readily than skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue.
What is the strongest muscle type?
the masseter
The strongest muscle based on its weight is the masseter. With all muscles of the jaw working together it can close the teeth with a force as great as 55 pounds (25 kilograms) on the incisors or 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms) on the molars.
What are the 4 stages of atherosclerosis?
Atherogenesis can be divided into five key steps, which are 1) endothelial dysfunction, 2) formation of lipid layer or fatty streak within the intima, 3) migration of leukocytes and smooth muscle cells into the vessel wall, 4) foam cell formation and 5) degradation of extracellular matrix.