Guidance Molecules in Vascular Smooth Muscle

Abstract

Several highly conserved families of guidance molecules, including ephrins, Semaphorins, Netrins, and Slits, play conserved and distinct roles in tissue remodeling during tissue patterning and disease pathogenesis. Primarily, these guidance molecules function as either secreted or surface-bound ligands that interact with their receptors to activate a variety of downstream effects, including cell contractility, migration, adhesion, proliferation, and inflammation. Vascular smooth muscle cells, contractile cells comprising the medial layer of the vessel wall and deriving from the mural population, regulate vascular tone and blood pressure. While capillaries lack a medial layer of vascular smooth muscle, mural-derived pericytes contribute similarly to capillary tone to regulate blood flow in various tissues. Furthermore, pericyte coverage is critical in vascular development, as perturbations disrupt vascular permeability and viability. During cardiovascular disease, smooth muscle cells play a more dynamic role in which suppression of contractile markers, enhanced proliferation, and migration lead to the progression of aberrant vascular remodeling. Since many types of guidance molecules are expressed in vascular smooth muscle and pericytes, these may contribute to blood vessel formation and aberrant remodeling during vascular disease. While vascular development is a large focus of the existing literature, studies emerged to address post-developmental roles for guidance molecules in pathology and are of interest as novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we will discuss the roles of guidance molecules in vascular smooth muscle and pericyte function in development and disease.

Multispecies Probiotic Supplementation Favorably Affects Vascular Function and Reduces Arterial Stiffness in Obese Postmenopausal Women—A 12-Week Placebo-Controlled and Randomized Clinical Study

“…In our study, PWA SP was significantly correlated with serum Il-6 concentration, and an inverse relation between IL-6 and delta TNF was documented. However, it should be emphasized that dysfunctions in smooth muscle cells may also contribute to an increased vascular tone, remodeling, and vasoreactivity in patients with cardiovascular diseases [ 43 ]. Undoubtedly, an extension of the research methods, e.g., the measurement of flow-mediated dilation or venous occlusion plethysmography, nitric oxide bioavailability, and reactive oxygen species level, would provide more information on the endothelium-mediated functional improvement of the patient after probiotic treatment.…”

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“…DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.11 (8). The article can be accessed online on www.ijpsr.com DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.11 (8).3717-24…”

“…EphA2 is overexpressed during inflammation 7 . EphA2 expression is required for fibronectin deposition 8 . EphA2 depletion reduces extracellular matrix deposition 9 .…”

EPH receptor B2 stimulates human monocyte adhesion and migration independently of its EphrinB ligands

“…These cues were originally found to play a crucial role in the process of axon growth. However, NGCs have also been shown to play a role in atherosclerosis, as NGCs also regulate the development of the vascular system, maintain the physiological function of endothelial cells, and play an important role in immune cell trafficking 7‐9 . The endothelial expression of several NGCs has been shown to differ between athero‐resistant and athero‐prone aortic regions.…”