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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
08:24
Isolation of Murine Coronary Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Published on: May 30, 2016
Phenotypic changes in vascular smooth muscle cells during aging: insulin effect on migration
F J Muñoz1, M Jiménez, J Melón
1University Research Institute of Gerontology and Metabolism, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Madrid, Spain.
Gerontology
|May 21, 1998
Summary
Insulin
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Endocrinology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Aging is associated with increased insulin secretion.
- Insulin may contribute to atherosclerosis through growth factor-like effects on vascular cells.
- Previous work showed insulin stimulates collagen synthesis in senescent vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of insulin-induced atherogenesis during aging.
- To determine insulin's effect on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration.
- To explore the relationship between insulin's effects on collagen synthesis and VSMC migration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a human senescent VSMC experimental model.
- Assessed the chemoattractant effects of insulin on VSMCs.
- Investigated the role of specific insulin receptors in mediating these effects.
- Compared insulin's chemotactic potency to insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).
Main Results:
- Insulin demonstrated a chemoattractant effect on VSMCs, mediated by specific insulin receptors.
- Blocking the insulin receptor abolished insulin's effect on VSMC migration.
- Insulin's chemotactic effect was less potent than IGF-1 at equivalent molar concentrations.
- A strong correlation (r2 = 97%) was observed between insulin's effects on collagen secretion and VSMC migration.
Conclusions:
- Insulin can promote VSMC migration through specific receptor binding, contributing to atherogenesis.
- Distinct yet related mechanisms link insulin's effects on collagen production and cell migration.
- Normal aging processes play a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis, potentially mediated by insulin.
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