Transcriptional regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMCs) modulate their state of differentiation in response to injury, and this plays an important role in proliferation and vascular regeneration. A number of transcription factors have been identified that function to coordinate VSMC differentiation and proliferation. Among them, GATA-6 and gax appear to favor the quiescent, differentiated state. On the other hand, BTEB2 and Egr-1 are associated with proliferative phenotype and factors such as SRF and MEF2 may have dual roles contributing to gene activation in both quiescent and proliferative VSMCs. In this paper, we will review the role of these transcription factors in VSMC differentiation and proliferation.