title: Molecular mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle cell growth.
abstract: In recent years, much progress has been made in elucidating the complex but orchestrated series of molecular events that drives a vascular smooth muscle cell to undergo proliferation. These events are initiated by mitogenic stimuli, such as platelet-derived growth factor binding to its receptor and triggering an intracellular signal transduction cascade, leading ultimately to cell-cycle progression and cell division. The signaling pathways that take place in response to both hyperplastic and hypertrophic agents, which include the mitogen-activated protein kinase and p70 S6 kinase, are discussed. In addition, novel protein kinase mediators, such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase B, and mechanisms that have recently been implicated in vascular smooth muscle cell growth are described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Imperial College School of Medicine, Harefield Hospital, Middlesex, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hafizi
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Chester
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yacoub
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008934:Mitogens / Q000502:physiology; D008967:Molecular Biology; D024510:Muscle Development; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor