Cellular Mechanisms of Spontaneous Hypertension and Stroke: Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Author(s):  
Y. Yamori ◽  
Y. Nara ◽  
T. Nabika ◽  
M. Tagami ◽  
R. Horie
1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Ping Xi ◽  
Kristof Graf ◽  
Stephan Goetze ◽  
Eckart Fleck ◽  
Willa A. Hsueh ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqiang Qi ◽  
Yujing Zhang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Dongxia Hou ◽  
Yang Xiang

We assessed the role of PGC-1α (PPARγ coactivator-1 alpha) in glucose-induced proliferation, migration, and inflammatory gene expression of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We carried out phagocytosis studies to assess the role of PGC-1α in transdifferentiation of VSMCs by flow cytometry. We found that high glucose stimulated proliferation, migration and inflammatory gene expression of VSMCs, but overexpression of PGC-1α attenuated the effects of glucose. In addition, overexpression of PGC-1α decreased mRNA and protein level of VSMCs-related genes, and induced macrophage-related gene expression, as well as phagocytosis of VSMCs. Therefore, PGC-1α inhibited glucose-induced proliferation, migration and inflammatory gene expression of VSMCs, which are key features in the pathology of atherosclerosis. More importantly, PGC-1α transdifferentiated VSMCs to a macrophage-like state. Such transdifferentiation possibly increased the portion of VSMCs-derived foam cells in the plaque and favored plaque stability.


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