title: Wnt signalling in smooth muscle cells and its role in cardiovascular disorders.
abstract: Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are the major cell type within blood vessels. SMCs exhibit low rates of proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in normal blood vessels. However, increased SMC proliferation, migration, and apoptosis rates radically alter the composition and structure of the blood vessel wall and contribute to cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, and restenosis that occur after coronary artery vein grafting and stent implantation. Consequently, therapies that modulate SMC proliferation, migration, and apoptosis may be useful for treating cardiovascular diseases. The family of Wnt proteins, which were first identified in the wingless drosophila, has a well-established role in embryogenesis and development. It is now emerging that Wnt proteins also regulate SMC proliferation, migration, and survival. In this review article, we discuss recently emerging research that has revealed that Wnt proteins are important regulators of SMC behaviour via activation of β-catenin-dependent and β-catenin-independent Wnt signalling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Heart Institute, School of Clinical Sciences, Research Floor Level 7, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin St, Bristol BS2 8HW,  UK.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mill
authors.forename: Sarah Jane
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology*