This review aims to survey the current state of mechanotransduction in vascular smooth
muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs), including their sensing of mechanical …

It has been known for more than 60 years, and suspected for over 100, that alveolar hypoxia
causes pulmonary vasoconstriction by means of mechanisms local to the lung. For the last …

The detrusor smooth muscle is the main muscle component of the urinary bladder wall. Its
ability to contract over a large length interval and to relax determines the bladder function …

The major function of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is contraction to regulate blood
pressure and flow. SMC contractile force requires cyclic interactions between SMC α-actin …

The airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell plays a central role in the pathogenesis of asthma and
constitutes an important target for treatment. These cells control muscle tone and thus …

Desmin is a muscle-specific protein and a key subunit of the intermediate filament in cardiac,
skeletal and smooth muscles. Desmin filaments are mainly located at the periphery of Z-disk …

Vascular proliferative diseases such as atherosclerosis and coronary restenosis are leading
causes of morbidity and mortality in developed nations. Common features associated with …

Thoracic aortic aneurysms leading to type A dissections (TAAD) can be inherited in isolation
or in association with genetic syndromes, such as Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz …

Smooth muscle is a major component of human tissues and is essential for the normal
function of a multitude of organs including the intestine, urinary tract and the vascular …

Adhesion and morphogenesis of many non-muscle cells are guided by contractile
actomyosin bundles called ventral stress fibers. While it is well established that stress fibers …