Journal
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
Volume 23, Issue 5, Pages 737-747Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1161/01.ATV.0000065197.07635.BA
Keywords
smooth muscle cells; differentiation; transcriptional regulation; serum response factor; CArG box
Categories
Funding
- NHLBI NIH HHS [R01 HL38854, P01 HL19242] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Alterations in the differentiated state of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are known to play a key role in vascular diseases, yet the mechanisms controlling SMC differentiation are still poorly understand. In this review, we discuss our present knowledge of control of SMC differentiation at the transcriptional level, pointing out some common themes, important paradigms, and unresolved issues in SMC-specific gene regulation. We focus primarily on the serum response factor-CArG box-dependent pathway, because it has been shown to play a critical role in regulation of multiple SMC marker genes. However, we also highlight several other important regulatory elements, such as a transforming growth factor beta control element, E-boxes, and MCAT motifs. We present evidence in support of the notion that SMC-specific gene regulation is not controlled by a few SMC-specific transcription factors but rather by complex combinatorial interactions between multiple general and tissue-specific proteins. Finally, we discuss the implications of chromatin remodeling on SMC differentiation.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available