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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Isolation of Human Umbilical Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells (HUASMC)
Published on: July 4, 2010
Heterogeneity of smooth muscle cell populations cultured from pig coronary artery
Hiroyuki Hao1, Patricia Ropraz, Vitali Verin
1Department of Pathology, University of Geneva-CMU, University Hospital Geneva, Switzerland.
Objective:
Heterogeneous smooth muscle cell (SMC) populations have been described in the arteries of several species. We have investigated whether SMC heterogeneity is present in the porcine coronary artery, which is widely used as a model of restenosis.
Methods And Results:
By using 2 isolation methods, distinct medial populations were identified: spindle-shaped SMCs (S-SMCs) after enzymatic digestion, with a "hill-and-valley" growth pattern, and rhomboid SMCs (R-SMCs) after explantation, which grow as a monolayer. Moreover, the intimal thickening that was induced after stent implantation yielded a large proportion of R-SMCs. R-SMCs exhibited high proliferative and migratory activities and high urokinase activity and were poorly differentiated compared with S-SMCs. Heparin and transforming growth factor-beta2 inhibited proliferation and increased differentiation in both populations, whereas fibroblast growth factor-2 and platelet-derived growth factor-BB had the opposite effect. In addition, S-SMCs treated with fibroblast growth factor-2 or platelet-derived growth factor-BB or placed in coculture with coronary artery endothelial cells acquired a rhomboid phenotype. This change was reversible and was also observed with S-SMC clones, suggesting that it depends on phenotypic modulation rather than on selection.
Conclusions:
Our results show that 2 distinct SMC subpopulations can be recovered from the pig coronary artery media. The study of these subpopulations will be useful for understanding the mechanisms of restenosis.
Insights
Two distinct smooth muscle cell (SMC) subpopulations were identified in pig coronary arteries. Understanding these SMC populations is key to unraveling restenosis mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Smooth muscle cell (SMC) heterogeneity is documented in arteries across species.
- The porcine coronary artery is a relevant model for studying restenosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate SMC heterogeneity in the porcine coronary artery.
- To determine if distinct SMC subpopulations contribute to restenosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two distinct isolation methods: enzymatic digestion and explantation.
- Analyzed SMC proliferation, migration, differentiation, and phenotype.
- Investigated the effects of growth factors and coculture on SMCs.
Main Results:
- Identified two distinct SMC populations: spindle-shaped SMCs (S-SMCs) and rhomboid SMCs (R-SMCs).
- R-SMCs demonstrated higher proliferation, migration, and urokinase activity, with poorer differentiation compared to S-SMCs.
- Phenotypic modulation, rather than selection, was suggested by reversible changes in S-SMCs.
Conclusions:
- Two distinct SMC subpopulations exist in the pig coronary artery media.
- These subpopulations offer valuable insights into restenosis mechanisms.
