Vascular smooth muscle cell signaling regulators (VSMC signaling regulators)

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) signaling regulators comprise a diverse array of proteins that orchestrate the physiological responses of the vascular wall to mechanical and chemical stimuli (Lacolley et al., 2012). This group includes G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) such as the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and endothelin receptors, which mediate vasoconstriction, as well as ion channels like L-type voltage-gated calcium channels that regulate intracellular calcium levels and muscle contraction (Touyz et al., 2018). Additionally, intracellular signaling molecules such as Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) play pivotal roles in modulating the sensitivity of the contractile apparatus to calcium (Shimokawa et al., 2016). These regulators are essential for maintaining vascular tone and blood pressure homeostasis; however, their chronic activation or dysregulation is central to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Therapeutic strategies targeting these regulators, such as calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and endothelin receptor antagonists, are widely used to manage vascular resistance and prevent pathological vascular remodeling (Khalil, 2010).

Other names

Vascular smooth muscle cell signaling proteinsVSMC contractile regulatorsVascular signaling moleculesRegulators of vascular tone

Modulation of vascular tone and phenotypic state through the inhibition or activation of G protein-coupled receptors, ion channels, and intracellular kinases.