Essential role of the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein in vascular smooth muscle cell migration
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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Random Migration of Cells Using Time-lapse Video Microscopy
Published on: May 13, 2012
Yonghe Li1, Wenyan Lu, Guojun Bu
1Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine and St Louis Children's Hospital, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. li_yo@kids.wustl.edu
Abstract:
The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) is a multifunctional cell surface receptor highly expressed in human aortic smooth muscle cells. In the present study, we used the short interfering RNA (siRNA) technique to explore the role of LRP in smooth muscle cell migration. We identified an LRP-specific siRNA that selective silences LRP expression in human aortic smooth muscle cells. As a consequence, LRP-mediated ligand degradation was significantly reduced. More important, we found that platelet-derived growth factor-dependent cell migration was inhibited in cells transfected with LRP siRNA. These results demonstrate an important role of LRP in smooth muscle cell migration.
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