{"id":1168,"date":"2012-10-21T12:22:21","date_gmt":"2012-10-21T11:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/heart-journalscan\/?p=1168"},"modified":"2015-11-12T16:06:09","modified_gmt":"2015-11-12T15:06:09","slug":"vascular-stem-cells-and-atherosclerosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/heart\/2012\/10\/21\/vascular-stem-cells-and-atherosclerosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Vascular stem cells and atherosclerosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The development of atherosclerotic diseases involves the proliferation and migration of a variety of cell types.\u00a0 It has been generally accepted that vascular smooth muscle cells in the arterial wall play a crucial role in this process through a process of \u2018de-differentiation\u2019 from a normal contractile phenotype to a proliferative and synthetic state that drives remodelling and disease development.\u00a0 In this study, Tang et al<\/em> re-examine this paradigm and provide compelling evidence to challenge the status quo.\u00a0 Using sophisticated in-vitro<\/em> lineage tracing techniques, they initially identified a novel type of stem cell which they dub a multipotent vascular stem cell (MVSC).\u00a0 Under normal physiological conditions these MVSCs replenish normal smooth muscle cells to maintain vascular integrity and function, but in response to vascular injury, the MVSCs undergo proliferative change and produce phenotypically abnormal smooth muscle cells.\u00a0 Therefore, rather than a process of \u2018de-differentiation\u2019\u00a0 of mature cells, atherosclerosis\u00a0 is elegantly demonstrated to be a disease of stem cells, switching attention to a new target in understanding the basic pathophysiology behind myocardial infarction and stroke.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Multipotent vascular stem cells affected by vascular injury undergo differentiation into abnormal proliferative smooth muscle cells characteristic of atherosclerosis.\u00a0 This new evidence re-targets atherosclerosis as a stem-cell disease, not only providing fundamental new insights into vascular biology but potentially providing new therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease<\/p>\n