title: The myoendothelial junction: connections that deliver the message.
abstract: A vast amount of investigation has centered on how the endothelium and smooth muscle communicate. From this evidence, myoendothelial junctions have emerged as critical anatomical structures to regulate heterocellular cross talk. Indeed, there is now evidence that the myoendothelial junction serves as a signaling microdomain to organize proteins used to facilitate vascular heterocellular communication. This review highlights the evolving role of myoendothelial junctions in the context of vascular cell-cell communication.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Straub
authors.affiliation: Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia; and.
authors.forename: Angela C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Zeigler
authors.affiliation: Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia; and Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia brant@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Brant E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Isakson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology