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Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

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Angiogenesis Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1430))

Abstract

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are the predominant cell type involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, vascular calcification and restenosis after angioplasty; however, they are also important in the de novo formation of blood vessels through differentiation of mesenchymal cells under the influence of mediators secreted by endothelial cells. In angiogenesis, vascular SMC are formed by proliferation of existing SMC or maturation and differntiation of pericytes. Experimental findings have demonstrated a potential role of putative smooth muscle progenitor cells in the circulation or within adult tissues and the perivascular adventitia in the development of atherosclerotic plaques, restenosis and angiogenesis. Modulation of vascular smooth muscle phenotype, SMC migration and hypertrophy are now recognized as key events in the development of vascular diseases. This has led to an increase in experimental research on SMC function in response to growth factors, extracellular matrix components, modified lipoproteins, biomechanical forces and other pro-atherogenic and pro-angiogenic mediators to address the cellular mechanisms involved. This chapter highlights well established methodologies used for vascular SMC and pericyte isolation and culture as well as their characterisation. A better understanding of vascular SMC and pericyte biology and their phenotypic modulation is required to identify therapeutic strategies to target angiogenesis and treat cardiovascular diseases.

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Acknowledgements

The vascular smooth muscle cell research in this laboratory is supported by the British Heart Foundation, Heart Research UK, Innovate UK and Unilever. We are grateful to all the midwives in the Maternity Unit and Birth Centre at St. Thomas’ Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust for supply of human umbilical cords obtained with prior ethical approval and consent of mothers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Division, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK

    Jessal J. Patel, Salil Srivastava & Richard C. M. Siow

Authors
  1. Jessal J. Patel
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  2. Salil Srivastava
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  3. Richard C. M. Siow
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard C. M. Siow .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Stewart G. Martin

  2. UNIV BIRMINGHAM/MEDICAL SCHOOL, BIRMINGHAM B15 2TT, United Kingdom

    Peter W. Hewett

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Patel, J.J., Srivastava, S., Siow, R.C.M. (2016). Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. In: Martin, S., Hewett, P. (eds) Angiogenesis Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1430. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3628-1_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3628-1_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3626-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3628-1

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