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Development and Diversity of Vascular Smooth Muscle Progenitors
Author(s) -
Majesky Mark William
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.190.1
Subject(s) - progenitor cell , reprogramming , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , embryonic stem cell , epigenetics , progenitor , chondrogenesis , mesenchymal stem cell , cellular differentiation , stem cell , cell , genetics , gene
Fate mapping studies show that vascular smooth muscle (VSM) is a mosaic tissue with multiple origins in vertebrate embryos. VSM from diverse embryonic progenitors exhibit distinct gene expression profiles and different functional properties in vivo. Lineage‐dependent pathways for specification of VSM progenitors involve epigenetic reprogramming of the genome guided by position‐specific local environmental cues. Adult vessels also harbor VSM progenitor cells in the media and the adventitia. The origins of adult VSM progenitors are not clear. Adult VSM cells are characterized by plasticity of the differentiated phenotype and they are reported to convert to other mesenchymal cell types (chondrogenic, osteogenic, adipogenic) in vivo. It is possible that intrinsic cellular reprogramming pathways are employed to adopt other cell identities possibly by retracing steps used in embryonic development. If so, VSM progenitors in adult vessel walls may be reflective of such a mechanism.