title: Characterization of smooth muscle-like cells in circulating human peripheral blood.
abstract: Smooth muscle cells play an important role in human vascular diseases. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that circulating smooth muscle precursor cells contribute to intimal hyperplasia in animal models. We obtained large spindle cells expressing alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), denoted here as "smooth muscle-like cells" (SMLC), from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). SMLC derived from human PBMC proliferated readily and expressed pro-inflammatory genes during early culture. After long-term culture, SMLC could contract and express characteristic smooth muscle cell markers. We found peripheral blood mononuclear cell expressing alpha-smooth muscle actin in the circulating blood that bore CD14 and CD105. Sorted CD14/CD105 double-positive PBMC could differentiate into SMLC. The number of CD14-CD105-bearing PBMC increased significantly in patients with coronary artery disease compared to patients without coronary artery disease. These results support the novel concept that smooth muscle precursor cells exist in circulating human blood and may contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: Seigo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kugiyama
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aikawa
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: Richard N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Libby
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D048430:Cell Shape; D000071063:Endoglin; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface