Research Advances in the Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Function by Extracellular Matrix Stiffness
GUO Yingying, MEN Junqi, JIA Xiaoling*
VSMCs (vascular smooth muscle cells) are the main cellular components of the blood vessel walls, and their functions are tightly associated with vascular physiopathology. The ECM (extracellular matrix) is a key structure de termining the mechanical properties of blood vessels, and its stiffness is increased with the progression of vascular patholo gy. The stiffer ECM accelerates the onset and progress of vascular diseases. Herein, this review has outlined recent research on how ECM stiffness impacts VSMC function and the underlying mechanisms, aiming to offer a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of vascular diseases.
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