Vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis: time for a re-assessment.

Abstract excerpt

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are key participants in both early and late-stage atherosclerosis. VSMCs invade the early atherosclerotic lesion from the media, expanding lesions, but also forming a protective fibrous cap rich in extracellular matrix to cover the 'necrotic' core. Hence, VSMCs have been viewed as plaque-stabilizing, and decreased VSMC plaque content-often measured by expression of contractile...

Topics

Share this publication in a Topic to start or enrich a Post.

• Share to Arteries
• Share to Atherosclerosis
• Share to Cell Lineage