Vascular smooth muscle cells in cerebral aneurysm pathogenesis.
Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) maintain significant plasticity. Following environmental stimulation, SMC can alter their phenotype from one primarily concerned with contraction to a pro-inflammatory and matrix remodeling phenotype. This is a critical process behind peripheral vascular disease and atherosclerosis, a key element of cerebral aneurysm pathology. Evolving evidence demonstrates that SMCs and phenotypic modulation play a significant role in cerebral aneurysm formation and rupture. Pharmacological alteration of smooth muscle cell function and phenotypic modulation could provide a promising medical therapy to inhibit cerebral aneurysm progression. This study reviews vascular SMC function and its contribution to cerebral aneurysm pathophysiology.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
- Intracranial Aneurysm
- Inflammation
- Humans
- Atherosclerosis
- Animals
- 3209 Neurosciences
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 1117 Public Health and Health Services
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular
- Intracranial Aneurysm
- Inflammation
- Humans
- Atherosclerosis
- Animals
- 3209 Neurosciences
- 3202 Clinical sciences
- 1117 Public Health and Health Services