OBJECTIVES The A10 cell line was derived from the thoracic aorta of embryonic rat and is a commonly used model of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Despite its wide use this cell line has not been well characterized. This is especially important in light of recent evidence of phenotypically distinct cell populations isolated from rat vascular tissue. Therefore, the present study was undertak...

Apoptosis of neointimal smooth muscle cells is a well-recognized component of the pathogenesis of vascular lesions. In recent studies, we have identified the neurotrophin receptor, p75, as a mediator of apoptosis of neointimal smooth muscle cells. Neurotrophin ligands and p75 are selectively expressed in areas of atherosclerotic lesions with increased smooth muscle cell apoptosis and the neurot...

Apoptosis of neointimal smooth muscle cells is a well-recognized component of the pathogenesis of vascular lesions. In recent studies, we have identified the neurotrophin receptor, p75(NTR), as a mediator of apoptosis of neointimal smooth muscle cells. Neurotrophin ligands and p75(NTR) are selectively expressed in areas of atherosclerotic lesions with increased smooth muscle cell apoptosis and ...

The presence of chloride-formate anion exchange in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and cardiac myocytes was investigated. Imposing an outward chloride gradient in sarcolemmal microsomes isolated from canine aorta stimulated [W4C]formate uptake compared with the absence of a chloride gradient (24.3±2.33 versus 9.8±1.41 pmol/mg protein for 30 seconds, P<.03) and induced transient uphill ['4C...

Circulation Research is available at http://circres.ahajournals.org DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.115.306361 Abstract: The historical view of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerosis is that aberrant proliferation of VSMCs promotes plaque formation, but that VSMCs in advanced plaques are entirely beneficial, for example preventing rupture of the fibrous cap. However, this view has been...

The goal of this study was to determine if increased vascular smooth muscle sensitivity to norepinephrine in two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats is the result of a decrease in adrenergic nerve function. Vascular sensitivity to norepinephrine was measured in isolated tail artery strips from 2K1C hypertensive and normotensive rats and in various arterial stripe preparations from normote...

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2)/prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) are potent vasoconstrictors whose contractile effects are mediated by increases in cellular calcium. Stable analogues of these compounds have shown calcium ionophore activity at high concentrations. To determine if effects of TXA2/PGH2 analogues on 45Ca2+ fluxes are receptor mediated, the effects of the stable TXA2/PGH2 mimetic U46619 and the TXA2/P...