Arterial smooth muscle

Abstract

The arterial SMC is a highly plastic cell type that plays crucial roles in normal physiology and several vascular diseases. The SMC's ability to undergo phenotypic switching, the mosaicism of SMC origin in the vascular system, and the presence of SMC progenitor cells all contribute to the versatility and complexity of SMC responses. Recent research highlights the importance of noncoding RNAs and cross talk among SMCs and other cell types in vascular biology. The next few years are likely to see many more exciting discoveries related to this fascinating cell type.