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Smooth muscle phenotypic plasticity in mechanical obstruction of the small intestine
Author(s) -
Macdonald J. A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2008.01148.x
Subject(s) - peristalsis , muscle hypertrophy , smooth muscle , hyperplasia , motility , ileum , myocardin , small intestine , medicine , biology , anatomy , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , serum response factor , biochemistry , gene , transcription factor
Chronic, partial obstruction of the small intestine can dramatically alter peristaltic contractile properties. Morphological studies have revealed hypertrophy of the circular smooth muscle cells in the constricted part of the intestine. In this issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility , Chen et al. show that hyperplasia and hypertrophy of intestinal smooth muscle cells occur at distinct times in response to partial obstruction of the ileum. Furthermore, the first evidence is provided to link intestinal smooth muscle remodelling during mechanical obstruction with changes in serum response factor and two of its co‐regulating factors, myocardin and Elk‐1.