title: Effects of cyclic strain and growth factors on vascular smooth muscle cell responses.
abstract: Under physiological and pathological conditions, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) are exposed to different biochemical factors and biomechanical forces. Previous studies pertaining to SMC responses have not investigated the effects of both factors on SMCs. Thus, in our research we investigated the combined effects of growth factors like Bfgf (basic fibroblast growth factor), TGF-beta (transforming growth factor beta) and PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor) along with physiological cyclic strain on SMC responses. Physiological cyclic strain (10% strain) significantly reduced SMC proliferation compared to static controls while addition of growth factors bFGF, TGF-beta or PDGF-AB had a positive influence on SMC growth compared to strain alone. Microarray analysis of SMCs exposed to these growth factors and cyclic strain showed that several bioactive genes (vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor, etc.) were altered upon exposure. Further work involving biochemical and pathological cyclic strain stimulation will help us better understand the role of cyclic strain and growth factors in vascular functions and development of vascular disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Arlington and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, USA.
authors.forename: Soujanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kona
authors.forename: Prithiviraj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chellamuthu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Seth R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hills
authors.forename: Kytai Truong
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Nguyen