title: Variation of mechanical properties and quantitative proteomics of VSMC along the arterial tree.
abstract: Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are thought to assume a quiescent and homogeneous mechanical behavior after arterial tree development phase. However, VSMCs are known to be molecularly heterogeneous in other aspects and their mechanics may play a role in pathological situations. Our aim was to evaluate VSMCs from different arterial beds in terms of mechanics and proteomics, as well as investigate factors that may influence this phenotype. VSMCs obtained from seven arteries were studied using optical magnetic twisting cytometry (both in static state and after stretching) and shotgun proteomics. VSMC mechanical data were correlated with anatomical parameters and ultrastructural images of their vessels of origin. Femoral, renal, abdominal aorta, carotid, mammary, and thoracic aorta exhibited descending order of stiffness (G, P < 0.001). VSMC mechanical data correlated with the vessel percentage of elastin and amount of surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), which decreased with the distance from the heart. After 48 h of stretching simulating regional blood flow of elastic arteries, VSMCs exhibited a reduction in basal rigidity. VSMCs from the thoracic aorta expressed a significantly higher amount of proteins related to cytoskeleton structure and organization vs. VSMCs from the femoral artery. VSMCs are heterogeneous in terms of mechanical properties and expression/organization of cytoskeleton proteins along the arterial tree. The mechanical phenotype correlates with the composition of ECM and can be modulated by cyclic stretching imposed on VSMCs by blood flow circumferential stress.
authors: Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil;
authors: Carla Luana
authors: CL
authors: Dinardo
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Venturini
authors: Enhua H
authors: EH
authors: Zhou
authors: Ii Sei
authors: IS
authors: Watanabe
authors: Luciene Cristina Gastalho
authors: LC
authors: Campos
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Dariolli
authors: Joaquim Maurício
authors: JM
authors: da Motta-Leal-Filho
authors: Valdemir Melechco
authors: VM
authors: Carvalho
authors: Karina Helena Morais
authors: KH
authors: Cardozo
authors: José Eduardo
authors: JE
authors: Krieger
authors: Adriano Mesquita
authors: AM
authors: Alencar
authors: Alexandre Costa
authors: AC
authors: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D040901:Proteomics; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin
keywords: aorta; extracellular matrix; smooth muscle cells; vascular smooth muscle