Fibronectin matrix polymerization regulates smooth muscle cell phenotype through a Rac1 dependent mechanism.

ABSTRACT: Smooth muscle cells are maintained in a differentiated state in the vessel wall, but can be modulated to a synthetic phenotype following injury. Smooth muscle phenotypic modulation is thought to play an important role in the pathology of vascular occlusive diseases. Phenotypically modulated smooth muscle cells exhibit increased proliferative and migratory properties that accompany the downregulation of smooth muscle cell marker proteins. Extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin, can regulate the smooth muscle phenotype when used as adhesive substrates. However, cells produce and organize a 3-dimensional fibrillar extracellular matrix, which can affect cell behavior in distinct ways from the protomeric 2-dimensional matrix proteins that are used as adhesive substrates. We previo

SUBMITTER: Shi F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3994013 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature