Lung smooth muscle differentiation.
The vascular and visceral smooth muscle tissues of the lung perform a number of tasks that are critical to pulmonary function. Smooth muscle function often is compromised as a result of lung disease. Though a great deal is known about regulation of smooth muscle cell replication and cell and tissue contractility, much less is understood regarding the phenotype of the contractile protein machinery of lung smooth muscle cells. This review focuses on the expression of cytoskeletal and contractile proteins of lung vascular and airway smooth muscle cells during development, in the adult and during vascular and airway remodeling. Emphasis is placed on the expression of the heavy chain of smooth muscle myosin, as well as the regulation of its gene. Important areas for future research are discussed.
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Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405-0068, USA. rlow@zoo.uvm.edu
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype
D015415:Biomarkers; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; D009218:Myosins