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The Contribution of Vascular Smooth Muscle to Aortic Stiffness Across Length Scales
Author(s) -
Saphirstein Robert J.,
Morgan Kathleen G.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
microcirculation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.793
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1549-8719
pISSN - 1073-9688
DOI - 10.1111/micc.12101
Subject(s) - stiffening , vascular smooth muscle , extracellular matrix , cardiology , medicine , aorta , disease , smooth muscle , etiology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , materials science , composite material
The operation of the cardiovascular system in health and disease is inherently mechanical. Clinically, aortic stiffness has proven to be of critical importance as an early biomarker for subsequent cardiovascular disease; however, the mechanisms involved in aortic stiffening are still unclear. The etiology of aortic stiffening with age has been thought to primarily involve changes in extracellular matrix protein composition and quantity, but recent studies suggest a significant involvement of the differentiated contractile vascular smooth muscle cells in the vessel wall. Here, we provide an overview of vascular physiology and biomechanics at different spatial scales. The processes involved in aortic stiffening are examined with particular attention given to recent discoveries regarding the role of vascular smooth muscle.