Effects of cyclic strain and growth factors on vascular smooth muscle cell responses
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Date
2009Author
Nguyen, Kytai Truong
Kona, Soujanya
Xu, Hao
Chellamuthu, Prithiviraj
Hills, Seth R.
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Under physiological and pathological conditions, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) are exposed to different
biochemical factors and biomechanical forces. Previous studies pertaining to SMC responses have not investigated the
effects of both factors on SMCs. Thus, in our research we investigated the combined effects of growth factors like bFGF
(basic fibroblast growth factor), TGF- (transforming growth factor ) and PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor) along
with physiological cyclic strain on SMC responses. Physiological cyclic strain (10% strain) significantly reduced SMC
proliferation compared to static controls while addition of growth factors bFGF, TGF- or PDGF-AB had a positive
influence on SMC growth compared to strain alone. Microarray analysis of SMCs exposed to these growth factors and
cyclic strain showed that several bioactive genes (vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor,
etc.) were altered upon exposure. Further work involving biochemical and pathological cyclic strain stimulation will help
us better understand the role of cyclic strain and growth factors in vascular functions and development of vascular
disorders.