scholarly journals Intercellular Bridges as Protoplasmic Anastomoses between Smooth Muscle Cells

1959 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Thaemert
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cell ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Plasma Membranes ◽  
Muscular Activity ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Intercellular Bridges ◽  
Microscopic Studies

In electron microscopic studies, protoplasmic anastomoses were found to occur between smooth muscle cells in the gastrointestinal tracts of rats. The protoplasmic connections are apparently cylindrical in form and contain cytoplasm having a density similar to that of the cellular regions connected. The membranes enclosing the cytoplasmic connections are continuous with the membranes of the connected cells. These connecting structures have been called intercellular bridges, which is adequately descriptive if emphasis is placed on the interpretation that they represent protoplasmic anastomoses. To emphasize this, the term may be modified; i.e., anastomotic intercellular bridges. In some cellular connections, transverse diffuse lines are seen. These may be interpreted as either disintegrating or reforming plasma membranes which is consistent with the concept that protoplasmic continuity is transitory. Since the animals were dissected under hypothermia, reduction of muscular activity by the chilling may have helped to preserve the structure of existing anastomotic intercellular bridges. The intercellular protoplasmic anastomoses may play a role in the conduction of action potentials from one smooth muscle cell to another.

Involvement of Cyclooxygenase- and Lipoxygenase-Mediated Conversion of Arachidonic Acid in Controlling Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (02) ◽  
pp. 291-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herm-Jan M Brinkman ◽  
Marijke F van Buul-Worteiboer ◽  
Jan A van Mourik
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Arachidonic Acid ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cell ◽  
Muscle Cell ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

SummaryWe observed that the growth of human umbilical arterysmooth muscle cells was inhibited by the phospholipase A2 inhibitors p-bromophenacylbromide and mepacrine. Thesefindings suggest that fatty acid metabolism might be integrated in the control mechanism of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. To identify eicosanoids possibly involved in this process, we studied both the metabolism of arachidonic acid of these cells in more detail and the effect of certain arachidonic acid metabolites on smooth muscle cells growth. We found no evidence for the conversion of arachidonic acid via the lipoxygenase pathway. In contrast, arachidonic acid was rapidly converted via the cyclooxy-genase pathway. The following metabolites were identified: prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-k-PGF1α), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT) and 11-hydroxyeicosatetetraenoic acid (11-HETE). PGE2 was the major metabolite detected. Arachidonic acid metabolites were only found in the culture medium, not in the cell. After synthesis, 11-HETE was cleared from the culture medium. We have previously reported that PGE2 inhibits the serum-induced [3H]-thymidine incorporation of growth-arrested human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells. Here we show that also 11-HETEexerts this inhibitory property. Thus, our data suggeststhat human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells convert arachidonic acid only via the cyclooxygenase pathway. Certain metabolites produced by this pathway, including PGE2 and 11-HETE, may inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Abstract WMP31: Dedifferentiation of Smooth Muscle Cells and its Potential Contribution to Pathogenesis of Intracranial Aneurysms

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mieko Oka ◽  
Nobuhiko Ohno ◽  
Takakazu Kawamata ◽  
Tomohiro Aoki
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Factors ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Electron Microscopic

Introduction: Intracranial aneurysm (IA) affects 1 to 5 % in general public and becomes the primary cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the most severe form of stroke. However, currently, no drug therapy is available for IAs to prevent progression and rupture of lesions. Elucidation of mechanisms underlying the disease is thus mandatory. Considering the important role of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the maintenance of stiffness of arterial walls and also in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis via mediating inflammatory responses, we in the present study analyzed morphological or phenotypical changes of SMCs during the disease development in the lesions. Methods: We subjected rats to an IA model in which lesions are induced by increase of hemodynamic force loading on intracranial arterial bifurcations and performed histopathological analyses of induced lesions including the electron microscopic examination. We then immunostained specimens from induced lesions to explore factors responsible for dedifferentiation or migration of SMCs. In vitro study was also done to examine effect of some candidate factors on dedifferentiation or migration of cultured SMCs. Results: We first found the accumulation of SMCs underneath the endothelial cell layer mainly at the neck portion of the lesion. These cells was positive for the embryonic form of myosin heavy chain, a marker for the dedifferentiated SMCs, and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors like TNF-α. In immunostaining to explore the potential factor regulating the dedifferentiation of SMCs, we found that Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) was expressed in endothelial cells at the neck portion of IA walls. Consistently, recombinant PDGF-BB could promote the dedifferentiate of SMCs and chemo-attracted them in in vitro. Finally, in the stenosis model of the carotid artery, PDGF-BB expression was induced in endothelial cells in which high wall shear stress was loaded and the dedifferentiation of SMCs occurred there. Conclusions: The findings from the present study imply the role of dedifferentiated SMCs partially recruited by PDGF-BB from endothelial cells in the formation of inflammatory microenvironment at the neck portion of IA walls, leading to the progression of the disease.

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