title: Biomechanical regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell functions: from in vitro to in vivo understanding.
abstract: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have critical functions in vascular diseases. Haemodynamic factors are important regulators of VSMC functions in vascular pathophysiology. VSMCs are physiologically active in the three-dimensional matrix and interact with the shear stress sensor of endothelial cells (ECs). The purpose of this review is to illustrate how haemodynamic factors regulate VSMC functions under two-dimensional conditions in vitro or three-dimensional co-culture conditions in vivo. Recent advances show that high shear stress induces VSMC apoptosis through endothelial-released nitric oxide and low shear stress upregulates VSMC proliferation and migration through platelet-derived growth factor released by ECs. This differential regulation emphasizes the need to construct more actual environments for future research on vascular diseases (such as atherosclerosis and hypertension) and cardiovascular tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, Chongqing Engineering Laboratory in Vascular Implants, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, , Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Juhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Yiming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Donghua
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gregersen
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yubo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Guixue
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
keywords: atherosclerosis; co-culture; mechanical stretch; shear stress; vascular smooth muscle cells