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Review
. 2011 Jul;31(7):1495-505.
doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.110.221135.

Signaling mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle cell differentiation

Christopher P Mack  1
Affiliations
Review

Signaling mechanisms that regulate smooth muscle cell differentiation

Christopher P Mack. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

Extensive studies over the last 30 years have demonstrated that vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation and phenotypic modulation is controlled by a dynamic array of environmental cues. The identification of the signaling mechanisms by which these environmental cues regulate SMC phenotype has been more difficult because of our incomplete knowledge of the transcription mechanisms that regulate SMC-specific gene expression. However, recent advances in this area have provided significant insight, and the goal of this review is to summarize the signaling mechanisms by which extrinsic cues control SMC differentiation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Signaling pathways that stimulate and/or maintain SMC differentiation
The red arrows denote nuclear translocation events.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Signaling pathways that promote the phenotypic modulation of SMC
Note that myocardin levels are significantly reduced. The red arrows denote nuclear translocation events.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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