Articles tagged with Smooth Muscle
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Researchers have uncovered how PAF triggers esophageal muscle contraction, revealing that non-VDCC channels, particularly Orai1, are key drivers of this process. This finding could lead to more effective treatments for esophageal and gastrointestinal symptoms in allergic conditions.
Researchers discovered bombesin-like peptides in the body can trigger contractions in the vas deferens, a muscular tube carrying sperm in the male reproductive system. The peptides likely act through a specific receptor to induce contractions.
Researchers discovered that platelet-activating factor (PAF) triggers strong contractions in the esophagus and upper stomach, potentially linked to food allergies and acid reflux. PAF also causes rhythmic muscle movements in the colon, which may be connected to chronic digestive diseases.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have identified a crucial biological switch that regulates renin production in certain cells, allowing them to control blood pressure. This discovery provides important direction for future research into high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease treatment.
Researchers at CNIC have identified endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition as a novel mechanism in premature atherosclerosis in progeria. The study proposes a new therapeutic target for this disease and highlights the importance of investigating rare diseases like progeria.
Researchers at UVA Health System have discovered genetic clues that may help identify people at risk of cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis. The study identified 20 locations on chromosomes that influence protein production, shedding light on why smooth muscle cells sometimes are beneficial and sometimes harmful.
Researchers discovered that reducing cholesterol levels in mice with advanced atherosclerosis leads to a decrease in the number of smooth muscle-derived cells causing plaque growth, while preserving stabilizing cell types. This finding opens up new opportunities for targeted therapies.
Researchers at UVA Health System created an 'atlas of atherosclerosis' revealing critical processes that form harmful plaque buildup. The study provides unprecedented insights into atherosclerosis and its impact on coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Research reveals increased sympathetic nerve activity and reduced exercise capacity in patients with heart failure resulting from anthracycline chemotherapy. Sympathetic neural overdrive is associated with skeletal myopathy and decreased cardiac function.
Researchers discovered that a mutation in the gene ACTA2 causes moyamoya disease and strokes in young children. The mutation leads to dysfunctional smooth muscle cells in arteries, resulting in blockages and increased risk of stroke. Understanding this mechanism could lead to new treatments for moyamoya disease.
The study reveals that NO forms a new compound, NO-ferroheme, which significantly expands blood vessels and directly activates guanylyl cyclase. This finding challenges the long-held hypothesis on nitric oxide signalling in blood vessels.
A novel molecular pathway has been identified, explaining how a mutation in the ACTA2 gene can cause individuals in their 30s with normal cholesterol levels to develop coronary artery disease. The mutation leads to stress in smooth muscle cells, triggering the production of excess cholesterol and driving atherosclerotic plaque formation.
CARMN is a long noncoding RNA that regulates contractility in both blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract. Without CARMN, mice cannot survive due to impaired GI tract contraction, leading to conditions like intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
A Mass General team has identified a single mutation in a non-coding gene, MIR145-5p, as the source of multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome, which had gone undiagnosed in a child for years. The discovery enabled physicians to initiate treatment and lessen the risk of future strokes.
Scientists have identified genes that play key roles in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD), a leading cause of death worldwide. The study found notable differences in gene activity between males and females, as well as between cells that were multiplying and those that were not.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have found that the inflammatory molecule LIGHT leads to airway remodeling and long-term breathing issues in severe asthma. Therapeutics targeting LIGHT could reverse airway and lung damage, offering a potential long-term treatment for asthma.
Scientists at Medical College of Georgia discover a new target to intervene in coronary artery disease, the most common type of heart disease. The target is ATIC, a gene essential for purine production, which increases in response to arterial disease.
Research reveals that α-Ketoglutarate (AKG) supplementation promotes skeletal muscle mass, improves exercise endurance, and increases blood flow, making it a potential nutritional supplement for enhancing health and exercise performance. AKG also relaxes vascular smooth muscle, allowing tissues to receive abundant oxygen and nutrients.
A new study in The American Journal of Pathology found that inhibiting neuropilin 2 in smooth muscle can enhance contraction and motility of the distal colon. This could provide opportunities to regulate smooth muscle activity in patients with colonic disorders.
Scientists aim to improve vein health for patients undergoing heart bypass surgery and dialysis. They discovered that two genes play a crucial role in smooth muscle cell differentiation, enabling veins to mature and function like arteries.
Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare cancer affecting up to 1 in 1 million women worldwide, characterized by uncontrolled tumor cell growth. Researchers aim to identify new therapeutic targets using extracellular vesicles, with the goal of developing new therapies for LAM patients.
A molecule of RNA called CARMN has been found to play a crucial role in maintaining healthy smooth muscle cells in the blood vessel wall, which can help prevent atherosclerosis and angioplasty-induced restenosis. Restoring healthy CARMN levels may lead to new approaches for treating heart disease.
A University of South Florida Health-led team discovered a lead candidate that selectively relaxes airway smooth muscle cells with no detectable drug desensitization. The biased beta-agonist, C1-S, offers a therapeutic option for asthma and obstructive lung diseases without the rapid loss of effectiveness seen with traditional β-agonists.
Researchers identified a protein leakage related to chronic airway diseases, which restricts breathing. Decreasing this leakage could improve asthma and COPD management by relaxing airways.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba found that PDGFRa+ cells in the adventitia contribute to neointima formation, a process where blood vessels thicken and cause blockages. The type of injury inflicted on blood vessels affects how these cells respond.
Researchers discover that serotonin release from mast cells contributes to airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma, revealing a new mechanism for this common respiratory disease. The study uses a mouse model of asthma to demonstrate how mast cells react to methacholine, leading to increased airway constriction.
Researchers have identified a promising new compound that activates bitter taste receptors to promote airway relaxation. The most potent compound, T5-8, demonstrates marked effectiveness in human airway smooth muscle cells.
Researchers at UVA Health System identified a gene variant MIA3 that produces a protein promoting smooth muscle cell proliferation, leading to thicker, stable protective caps on blood vessel plaques. This discovery could help prevent heart attacks by stabilizing plaque lesions and reducing the risk of coronary artery disease.
Researchers investigated gut microbiota and contractility in chronic constipation, finding preserved muscle contraction and increased sensitivity to stimulation. The study highlights the role of overall gut microbiota at a functional level and suggests potential directions for further research.
A research team led by Dr. Alida Bailleul has found that ovarian follicles can be preserved in fossils more than 120 million years old, confirming the function of a single functional ovary in birds. The study uses scanning electron microscopy and other methods to analyze fossilized tissues and compare them to extant bird follicles.
A study reveals that smooth muscle cells near necrotic cores of atherosclerotic plaques produce complement protein C3, stimulating macrophage activation and driving clonal expansion. The cells' ability to evade immune surveillance is restored by inhibiting CD47, suggesting these cells as viable therapeutic targets.
Researchers at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine have successfully bioprinted trachea constructs comprising of smooth muscle and cartilage regions, showcasing similar mechanical properties to human tracheal tissue. The novel approach could provide regenerative medicine treatments for damaged or diseased tracheal regions.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered that specific cells in artery walls transform to form protective caps on plaque, reducing the risk of rupture. The new discovery sheds light on atherosclerosis progression and potential prevention strategies.
Researchers at Morgridge Institute for Research have successfully grown smooth muscle cells from pluripotent stem cells using a novel growth factor called RepSox. This breakthrough reduces the risk of intimal hyperplasia, a common cause of graft failure in bypass surgery.
A new asthma pill has shown promising results in reducing airway muscle and inflammation, potentially leading to improved symptoms and reduced attacks. The investigational drug, Fevipiprant, may also reduce the need for oral steroids, a common treatment for severe asthma.
Day's research develops layer-by-layer assembled nanoshells to deliver tumor suppressor miR-34a into cells, reducing cancer cell growth. Gleghorn discovers TRPV4 regulates airway development in fetal lungs, potentially leading to new therapeutic targets for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers have developed a method to bioprint complex tubular structures that mimic native vessels and ducts in the body. The 3D bioprinting technique allows for fine-tuning of printed tissues' properties, enabling potentially viable replacements for damaged tissue.
A new study found that poor nitric acid responsiveness may lead to arteriovenous fistula failure in hemodialysis patients. Researchers discovered that improving nitric oxide responsiveness through manipulation of local mediators can prevent fistula maturation failure and potentially improve patient outcomes.
Researchers from Virginia Tech and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a new method to study the role of biomechanical forces in diseased pathologies. The technique, called nanonet force microscopy (NFM), measures single cell-fiber forces under both passive conditions and disease conditions.
Researchers discover bitter taste receptors in the uterus can relax contracted muscle tissue, potentially stopping premature contractions. The findings provide hope for developing new therapeutics to prevent preterm labor.
Researchers discovered two olfactory receptors in human lung tissue that regulate airway smooth muscle cell contraction. Activation of these receptors may help constrict or prevent airway constriction in diseases such as asthma and emphysema.
Researchers identified thicker airway smooth muscle and a stronger immune response to allergens in patients with asthma compared to those without. This study used innovative imaging technology to analyze the structure and function of airway cells, shedding new light on the underlying causes of asthma.
Researchers have found increased expression of galectin-3 protein in pulmonary hypertension, which causes unhealthy remodeling and constriction of lung blood vessels. They also discovered that a drug already tested for liver fibrosis can block or reverse early disease progression, offering new hope for treatment.
Researchers discovered that pulmonary artery stiffening occurs early in the disease process and promotes vascular remodeling by altering signaling pathways. This finding highlights the importance of addressing pulmonary artery stiffness as an early driver of pulmonary hypertension.
Researchers at UMass Medical School identified a molecular pathway critical for maintaining smooth muscle tone, which may lead to new treatments for digestive disorders. The study found that genetic deletion of a specific enzyme led to loss of basal tone and fecal incontinence in mice.
Researchers have discovered that ivacaftor restores CFTR function, improves airflow, and increases the capacity and flexibility of small airways in cystic fibrosis patients. The study suggests that loss of CFTR in airway smooth muscle cells is responsible for some CF-associated symptoms.
Researchers have found that transient bladder contractions play a crucial role in sensing pressure and conveying information to sensory nerves. The frequency and rate of rise of these contractions may be fine-tuned by other cell types, offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention in urinary bladder dysfunction.
A team of researchers from UCLA has developed biomaterial coatings that alter cell proliferation and attachment. The coatings, which include collagen and heparan sulfate, were found to improve cell survival after implantation by promoting blood vessel development. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of functional tissues for t...
Researchers discovered that mechanical forces regulate airway branching in the developing lung, challenging previous theories. The study's findings have long-term implications for understanding developmental disorders and treating growth disorders like cancer.
An in vitro study found that smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells respond uniquely to mechanical stretching, with different frequencies triggering distinct adaptations. Understanding these responses could lead to cell-type specific activation of vascular cells for improved regenerative medicine strategies.
Periodontitis has been shown to increase the expression of pro-inflammatory angiopoietin 2, while decreasing anti-inflammatory angiopoietin 1 in aortic smooth muscle cells, leading to increased inflammation and atherosclerosis. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms linking periodontitis to heart disease.
A new study reveals that smooth muscle cells play a more complex role in the formation and stability of atherosclerotic plaques than previously thought. The researchers found that 82% of smooth muscle cells within advanced lesions cannot be identified using traditional methods, leading to confusion about cell identity.
Scientists develop a method to create replacement intestine tissue in the lab using a patient's own cells, which can help treat infants with short bowel and adults with large pieces of gut removed due to cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. The new technique also shows promise for engineering anal sphincters to treat fecal incontinence.
Researchers from INSERM have demonstrated gallopamil's clinical efficacy in treating severe asthma by reducing bronchial smooth muscle mass and airway obstruction. The study involved 31 patients with severe asthma, who showed significant improvements in BSM thickness and asthma attacks after treatment.
A Harvard team developed a human airway muscle-on-a-chip that accurately mimics the way smooth muscle contracts in the human airway. The chip can be used to test new drugs and measure human responses to asthma triggers, paving the way for patient-specific treatments.
A study by University of Maryland researchers has identified a toxic protein that damages muscle cells inside the arteries of children with progeria, a rare genetic disorder. The discovery may help explain how cardiovascular disease develops in people aging normally and could lead to new treatments for the condition.
Researchers found that deleting YAP from vascular smooth muscle cells causes thin-walled blood vessels prone to over-dilation and aneurysms. The protein also manages cell proliferation and suppression of the cell cycle arrest gene Gpr132, suggesting its role in normal blood vessel formation.
Researchers at Yale University have made a breakthrough in understanding the cellular mechanisms behind pulmonary hypertension, a life-threatening condition that affects millions. The study identified specific cells responsible for the disease's progression and suggests potential targets for therapy.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals how excess smooth muscle cells develop in arteries affected by pulmonary hypertension, a potentially fatal disease. The research provides new insights into the disease's progression and may lead to novel treatments targeting specific cell types.
Researchers found that prenatal vitamin A deficiency leads to airway hyperresponsiveness in adult mice by causing abnormal smooth muscle development. The study suggests that structural and functional changes in the lungs due to vitamin A deficiency during development may be an important factor in asthma susceptibility.