Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells: HAOSMC, adult

Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells (HAOSMC) provide an excellent model system to study all aspects of cardiovascular function and disease, especially those related to mechanisms of hyperplasia and hypertrophy of intimal smooth muscle cells leading to vascular occlusion in atherosclerosis and stent restenosis. HAOSMC have been utilized in dozens of research studies, for example, to:elucidate cytokines and growth factors signaling pathways implicated in the molecular regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and overall vascular function (Liu, 2009; Tan, 2009; Seymour, 2010; Chen, 2011; Hirase, 2013; Stein, 2013):. Understand hyperglycemia-related risk factors for atherosclerosis in diabetes patients (Maier, 2010), as well as effects of ethanol on vascular calcification (Oros, 2012). Investigate extracellular elastic matrix deposition and its role in cardiovascular health, repair of damaged vasculature and successful tissue engineering (Gacchina, 2010, 2011; Venkataraman, 2012; Phillippi, 2013). Study mechanisms and effects of mechanoregulation on proliferation and function of smooth muscle cells (Jiang, 2009; Venkataraman, 2013, 2014), and develop advanced stent technology, including novel surface materials, and drug and gene delivery systems to prevent restenosis and other occlusive vasculopathies (Brito, 2010; Deshpande, 2013; Kakade, 2013; Lamichhane, 2013)Characterization: Positive for smooth muscle cell specific alpha-actin expression.