Control of vascular smooth muscle cell growth by cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory proteins and its implication in cardiovascular disease.

While quiescence is a defining characteristic of differentiated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) residing within the medial layer of elastic arteries in the adult organism, mature VSMCs can undergo phenotypic modulation and reenter the cell cycle in response to several physiological and pathological stimuli. Abnormal VSMC proliferation is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular occlusive lesions, including atherosclerosis, vessel renarrowing after successful angioplasty (restenosis), and graft atherosclerosis after coronary transplantation. Therefore, elucidating the molecular mechanisms limiting VSMC growth is currently the subject of active research. This review will focus on the role of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory proteins in the regulation of VSMC proliferation and its implication in intimal lesion formation during the pathogenesis of vascular proliferative diseases.