title: An updated view on stem cell differentiation into smooth muscle cells.
abstract: Stem cells possess the ability of self-renewal and give rise to specific cell types. The differentiation of stem cells involves environmental factors, transduction of extra and intra-cellular signals, regulation of gene expression by transcriptional factors, microRNAs and chromosome structural modifiers. Vascular SMCs play a profound role in blood vessel physiology and participate in a number of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and restenosis. In addition, SMCs could be a crucial cell component for vascular tissue engineering. In this review, we aim to update the recent progress on the mechanisms of SMC differentiation from stem cells, which involve reactive oxygen species, epigenetic modifiers, transcription factors and microRNAs coordinately regulated during stem cell differentiation. We will also discuss the potential application of stem cell therapy for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, PR China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yijiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qingbo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs