Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell (VSMC)

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are specialized smooth muscle cells that form the majority of the walls of blood vessels, particularly arteries and arterioles. They play a central role in regulating vascular tone, vessel diameter, and thus blood pressure by contracting or relaxing in response to various stimuli. VSMCs can switch between contractile and synthetic phenotypes, participating in repair processes and pathological remodeling. Their function is regulated by neural control (sympathetic nervous system), vasoactive substances, and molecular pathways such as PDGF signaling. Dysregulation of VSMC function contributes to hypertension, aneurysm formation, and restenosis.

Other names

Smooth muscle cell, vascularVSMCs

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