Received March 24, 2005
Revised April 19, 2005
Accepted after revision May 9, 2005
NEW ASPECTS OF VASCULAR REMODELLING: THE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL VASCULAR CELL TYPES
John (Ian) C McGrath 1*,
Clare Deighan 1,
Ana M Briones 2,
Majid Malekzadeh Shafaroudi 3,
Melissa McBride 1,
Jeremy Adler 4,
Silvia Arribas 5,
Elisabet Vila 6,
Craig J Daly 1
1 University of Glasgow
2 Autonomous University of Madrid
3 Sari Medical Faculty, Mazandaran,
4 Stockholm University
5 Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
6 Autonomous University of Barcelona
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: i.mcgrath{at}bio.gla.ac.uk.
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Abstract |
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Conventionally, the architecture of arteries is based around the close-packed smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix. However, the adventitia and endothelium are now viewed as key players in vascular growth and repair. A new dynamic picture has emerged of blood vessels in a constant state of self-maintenance. Recent work raises fundamental questions on the cellular heterogeneity of arteries and the time-course and triggering of normal and pathological remodelling. A common denominator emerging in hypertensive remodelling is an early increase in adventitial cell density suggesting that adventitial cells drive remodelling and may initiate subsequent changes such as re-arrangement of smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix. The organisation of vascular smooth muscle cells follows regular arrangements that can be modelled mathematically. In hypertension new patterns can be quantified in these terms and give insights to how structure affects function. Like smooth muscle, little is known about the organisation of the vascular endothelium, or its role in vascular remodelling. Current observations suggest that there may be a close relationship between the helical organisation of SMC and the underlying pattern of ECs. The function of myoendothelial connections is a topic of great current interest and may relate to the structure of the internal elastic lamina through which the connections must pass. In hypertensive remodelling these must present on organisational challenge. The objective of this paper is to summarise how these factors, viewed as a whole, provide an interesting perspective on how the functions of blood vessels depend on their architecture and a continually shifting mosaic of cells and extracellular proteins.
Key Words:
Cardiovascular, Confocal microscopy, Hypertension
