Showing papers on "Smoothelin published in 2012"

Heart-rate reduction by If-channel inhibition with ivabradine restores collateral artery growth in hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis.

Abstract: Aims Collateral arteries protect tissue from ischaemia. Heart rate correlates with vascular events in patients with arterial obstructive disease. Here, we tested the effect of heart-rate reduction (HRR) on collateral artery growth. Methods and results The If-channel inhibitor ivabradine reduced heart rate by 11% in wild-type and 15% in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− mice and restored endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortic rings of ApoE−/− mice. Microsphere perfusion and angiographies demonstrated that ivabradine did not change hindlimb perfusion in wild-type mice but improved perfusion in ApoE−/− mice from 40.5 ± 15.8–60.2 ± 18.5% ligated/unligated hindlimb. Heart rate reduction (13%) with metoprolol failed to improve endothelial function and perfusion. Protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phosphorylated eNOS, and eNOS activity were increased in collateral tissue following ivabradine treatment of ApoE−/− mice. Co-treatment with nitric oxide-inhibitor N (G)-nitro-L- arginine methyl ester abolished the effects of ivabradine on arteriogenesis. Following ivabradine, classical inflammatory cytokine expression was lowered in ApoE−/− circulating mononuclear cells and in plasma, but unaltered in collateral-containing hindlimb tissue, where numbers of perivascular macrophages also remained unchanged. However, ivabradine reduced expression of anti-arteriogenic cytokines CXCL10and CXCL11 and of smooth muscle cell markers smoothelin and desmin in ApoE−/− hindlimb tissue. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inflammatory cytokine expression were unchanged in wild-type mice. Ivabradine did not affect cytokine production in HUVECs and THP1 mononuclear cells and had no effect on the membrane potential of HUVECs in patch-clamp experiments. Conclusion Ivabradine-induced HRR stimulates adaptive collateral artery growth. Important contributing mechanisms include improved endothelial function, eNOS activity, and modulation of inflammatory cytokine gene expression.

Two microRNAs, miR-330 and miR-125b-5p, mark the juxtaglomerular cell and balance its smooth muscle phenotype

Abstract: We have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) are necessary for renin cell specification and kidney vascular development. Here, we used a screening strategy involving microarray and in silico analyses, along with in situ hybridization and in vitro functional assays to identify miRNAs important for renin cell identity. Microarray studies using vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the renin lineage and kidney cortex under normal conditions and after reacquisition of the renin phenotype revealed that of 599 miRNAs, 192 were expressed in SMCs and 234 in kidney cortex. In silico analysis showed that the highly conserved miR-330 and miR-125b-5p have potential binding sites in smoothelin (Smtn), calbindin 1, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, α-smooth muscle actin, and renin genes important for the myoepithelioid phenotype of the renin cell. RT-PCR studies confirmed miR-330 and miR-125b-5p expression in kidney and SMCs. In situ hybridization revealed that under normal conditions, miR-125b-5p was expressed in arteriolar SMCs and in juxtaglomerular (JG) cells. Under conditions that induce reacquisition of the renin phenotype, miR-125b-5p was downregulated in arteriolar SMCs but remained expressed in JG cells. miR-330, normally absent, was expressed exclusively in JG cells of treated mice. In vitro functional studies showed that overexpression of miR-330 inhibited Smtn expression in SMCs. On the other hand, miR-125b-5p increased Smtn expression, whereas its inhibition reduced Smtn expression. Our results demonstrate that miR-330 and miR-125b-5p are markers of JG cells and have opposite effects on renin lineage cells: one inhibiting and the other favoring their smooth muscle phenotype.

Cryopreservation of human vascular umbilical cord cells under good manufacturing practice conditions for future cell banks

Abstract: In vitro fabricated tissue engineered vascular constructs could provide an alternative to conventional substitutes. A crucial factor for tissue engineering of vascular constructs is an appropriate cell source. Vascular cells from the human umbilical cord can be directly isolated and cryopreserved until needed. Currently no cell bank for human vascular cells is available. Therefore, the establishment of a future human vascular cell bank conforming to good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions is desirable for therapeutic applications such as tissue engineered cardiovascular constructs. A fundamental step was the adaption of conventional research and development starting materials to GMP compliant starting materials. Human umbilical cord artery derived cells (HUCAC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were isolated, cultivated, cryopreserved (short- and long-term) directly after primary culture and recultivated subsequently. Cell viability, expression of cellular markers and proliferation potential of fresh and cryopreserved cells were studied using trypan blue staining, flow cytometry analysis, immunofluorescence staining and proliferation assays. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t-test. Sufficient numbers of isolated cells with acceptable viabilities and homogenous expression of cellular markers confirmed that the isolation procedure was successful using GMP compliant starting materials. The influence of cryopreservation was marginal, because cryopreserved cells mostly maintain phenotypic and functional characteristics similar to those of fresh cells. Phenotypic studies revealed that fresh cultivated and cryopreserved HUCAC were positive for alpha smooth muscle actin, CD90, CD105, CD73, CD29, CD44, CD166 and negative for smoothelin. HUVEC expressed CD31, CD146, CD105 and CD144 but not alpha smooth muscle actin. Functional analysis demonstrated acceptable viability and sufficient proliferation properties of cryopreserved HUCAC and HUVEC. Adaptation of cell isolation, cultivation and cryopreservation to GMP compliant starting materials was successful. Cryopreservation did not influence cell properties with lasting impact, confirming that the application of vascular cells from the human umbilical cord is feasible for cell banking. A specific cellular marker expression profile was established for HUCAC and HUVEC using flow cytometry analysis, applicable as a GMP compliant quality control. Use of these cells for the future fabrication of advanced therapy medicinal products GMP conditions are required by the regulatory authority.

Characterization of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cell phenotype in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction.

Abstract: Phenotypic modulation from a contractile to a proliferative state within vascular smooth muscle cells has a critical role in the pathogenesis of a variety of cardiovascular diseases. To investigate the characterization of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cell phenotype in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction, a group of Sprague-Dawley rats (n=30) were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg kg(-1)) and screened by subcutaneous injection of apomorphine (100 μg kg(-1)) for the measurement and comparison of the penile erections, and then three different groups were defined. Primary corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells were cultured and passaged. The cavernous tissue segments were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the expressions of smooth muscle α-actin (SMA), SM myosin heavy chain (SMMHC), smoothelin, calponin and myocardin. Cell contractility in vitro and western blot analysis of SMA and SMMHC in the cavernous tissues and cells were determined. Compared with the control group (n=8) and the diabetes mellitus group (n=5), the expressions of SMA, calponin, SMMHC, smoothelin and myocardin mRNA were decreased in the cavernous tissues in rats of the diabetic erectile dysfunction group (n=15; P=0.001 and 0.02, P=0.014 and 0.012, both P<0.001, P=0.005 and <0.001, P=0.003 and 0.035, respectively). The levels of SMA and SMMHC proteins showed a significant decrease in cavernous tissues and cultured cells in rats of the diabetic erectile dysfunction group. Cells of the diabetic erectile dysfunction group exhibited significantly less contractility compared with those of other groups (P<0.001). Corpus cavernosum SM cell possesses the ability to modulate the phenotype under hyperglycemic conditions, which could have a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic erectile dysfunction.

Impact of endothelial cells on 3D cultured smooth muscle cells in a biomimetic hydrogel

Abstract: For the development of vascular tissue engineering, the impact of endothelial cells (ECs) on smooth muscle cell (SMC) spreading, proliferation, and differentiation is explored in the current study using a coculture model In this coculture model, SMCs were encapsulated in a biomimetic hydrogel based on methacrylated dextran-graft-lysine (Dex-MA-LA) and methacrylamide-modified gelatin (Gel-MA), and exposed to a monolayer of ECs With EC coculture, SMC proliferation in 3D hydrogel was promoted at initial period, and the formation of denser cellular networks was enhanced ECs dynamically modulated SMC phenotype by promoting a more contractile SMC phenotype initially (on day 2), indicated by the upregulated expression of contractile genes α-actin, calponin, smooth muscle-myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC), and smoothelin; however, the onset of maximum expressions was delayed by ECs Full differentiation of SMCs was not obtained even with EC coculture Higher level of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were detected in medium of coculture These biochemical cues together with the physical cue of tensional force within cellular networks may be responsible for the dynamic modulation of SMC phenotype in coculture Synthesis of elastin was promoted by ECs at transcriptional level The formation of denser cellular networks and synthesis of elastin suggest that coculture with ECs is a potential method to construct functional vessel media layer in vitro

Preliminary study of the cellular characteristics of primary bronchial fibroblasts in patients with asthma: expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin containing extra type III domain A, and smoothelin.

Abstract: ■ Abstract Background: The relationship between fi broblasts, myofi broblasts, and smooth muscle cells within the airway wall remains poorly understood. Objective: The cellular characteristics of primary bronchial fi broblasts from patients with asthma were investigated by evaluating the expression of 3 proteins: α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA), fi bronectin containing extra type III domain A (EDAcFN), and smoothelin. Methods: Expression of SMA, EDAcFN, and smoothelin was evaluated in primary fi broblasts from 3 patients with asthma of varying symptom severity, embryonic fi broblasts, and a healthy control. In addition, primary bronchial fi broblasts from patients with asthma were assessed for SMA at various incubation times (4 hours to 76 hours) and with different extracellular matrices (ECMs). Immunofl uorescence was assessed by manually counting cells that stained positively as fifi lamentous structures under a fl uorescence microscope. Results: Expression of fiSMA tended to increase with the length of incubation. The positive to total cell ratio for fi lamentous cells did not differ signifi cantly between the various kinds of ECMs onto which cells were plated (P>.05). Primary bronchial fi broblasts from asthma patients produced more prominent expression of EDAcFN than control fi broblasts. Smoothelin was not expressed in any fi broblasts. Conclusions: More than 50% of primary bronchial fi broblasts were defi ned as myofi broblasts. Primary bronchial fi broblasts in patients with asthma had more potential for tissue fi brosis than control fi broblasts. No mature smooth muscle cells were observed in primary bronchial fi broblasts in patients with asthma.

Arteriolar vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation in benign nephrosclerosis

Abstract: Background. Benign nephrosclerosis (bN) is the most prevalent form of hypertensive damage in kidney biopsies. It is defined by early hyalinosis and later fibrosis of renal arterioles. Despite its high prevalence, very little is known about the contribution of arteriolar vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to bN. We examined classical and novel candidate markers of the normal contractile and the pro-fibrotic secretory phenotype of VSMCs in arterioles in bN. Methods. Sixty-three renal tissue specimens with bN and eight control specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry for the contractile markers caldesmon, alphasmooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), JunB, smoothelin and the secretory marker S100A4 and by double stains for caldesmon or smoothelin with S100A4. Results. Smoothelin immunostaining showed an inverse correlation with hyalinosis and fibrosis scores, while S100A4 correlated with fibrosis scores only. Neither caldesmon, alpha-SMA nor JunB correlated with hyalinosis or fibrosis scores. Cells in the arteriolar wall were exclusively positive either for caldesmon/smoothelin or S100A4. Conclusions. This is the first systematic analysis of VSMC differentiation in bN. The results suggest that smoothelin is the most sensitive marker for the contractile phenotype and that S100A4 could be a novel marker for the secretory phenotype in vivo. The other markers did not seem to differentiate these phenotypes in bN. Thus, VSMC phenotype markers should be defined in the context of the vessel segment and disease under examination. S100A4 could not only be a marker of pro-fibrotic secretory VSMCs in bN but also an important mediator of arteriolar fibrosis.

Resident phenotypically modulated vascular smooth muscle cells in healthy human arteries

Abstract: Vascular interstitial cells (VICs) are non-contractile cells with filopodia previously described in healthy blood vessels of rodents and their function remains unknown. The objective of this study was to identify VICs in human arteries and to ascertain their role. VICs were identified in the wall of human gastro-omental arteries using transmission electron microscopy. Isolated VICs showed ability to form new and elongate existing filopodia and actively change body shape. Most importantly sprouting VICs were also observed in cell dispersal. RT-PCR performed on separately collected contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and VICs showed that both cell types expressed the gene for smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC). Immunofluorescent labelling showed that both VSMCs and VICs had similar fluorescence for SM-MHC and αSM-actin, VICs, however, had significantly lower fluorescence for smoothelin, myosin light chain kinase, h-calponin and SM22α. It was also found that VICs do not have cytoskeleton as rigid as in contractile VSMCs. VICs express number of VSMC-specific proteins and display features of phenotypically modulated VSMCs with increased migratory abilities. VICs, therefore represent resident phenotypically modulated VSMCs that are present in human arteries under normal physiological conditions.

Haplotype of smoothelin gene associated with essential hypertension.

Abstract: Smoothelin is a specific cytoskeletal protein that is associated with smooth muscle cells. The human SMTN gene encodes smoothelin-A and smoothelin-B, and studies using SMTN gene knockout mice have demonstrated that these animals develop hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the human SMTN gene and essential hypertension (EH) using a haplotype-based case-control study. This is the first study to assess the association between essential hypertension and this gene. A total of 255 EH patients and 225 controls were genotyped for the five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2074738, rs5997872, rs56095120, rs9621187 and rs10304) used as genetic markers for the human SMTN gene. Data were analyzed for three separate groups: total subjects, men and women. Although there were no differences for genotype distributions, or the dominant and recessive model distributions noted for total subjects, men and women for all of the SNPs selected for the present study, for the total subjects group, the frequency of the G-C-A-C haplotype constructed with rs2074738-rs5997872-rs56095120-rs9621187 was significantly lower in the essential hypertension patients than in the controls (P = 0.002). The G-C-A-C haplotype appears to be a useful protective marker of essential hypertension in Japanese, and the SMTN gene might also be a genetic marker for essential hypertension.

High-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma of inguinal region in a dog.

Abstract: A subcutaneous tumor in the left inguinal region was present in an 11-year-old female bloodhound. Histopathologically, the tumor showed invasive growth and extensive necroses, and it was composed of spindle-shaped, elongated, and stellate neoplastic cells accompanied by occasional giant cells arranged in fascicular, herringbone, or irregular storiform patterns with abundant production of collagen fibers. The cytoplasm of most tumor cells was positive for vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and calponin, but was negative for desmin, smoothelin, and S-100. Furthermore, most of the tumor cells were negative for Iba1 while some tumor cells were weakly positive. Thus, this tumor was diagnosed as a high-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma according to the diagnostic criteria for human myofibroblastic sarcomas.

A haplotype of the SMTN gene associated with myocardial infarction in Japanese women.

Abstract: Objectives: Smoothelin is a specific kind of cytoskeletal protein present in smooth muscle cells. Some researchers have shown the relationship between smoothelin and atherosclerotic plaque. The human SMTN gene encodes smoothelin-A and smoothelin-B. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between the human SMTN gene and myocardial infarction (MI) using a haplotype-based case–control study. Methods: A total of 227 MI patients and 257 supercontrols were genotyped for five single-nucleotide polymorphisms used as genetic markers of the human smoothelin gene. Data were analyzed for three separate groups: total subjects, men, and women. Results: For the women, the frequency of the C-T-T-G haplotype (established by rs5997872, rs56095120, rs9621187, and rs10304) was significantly higher in the MI group than in the control group (p=0.012). Conclusions: We confirmed that the haplotype constructed using rs5997872, rs56095120, rs9621187, and rs10304 is a useful genetic marker of MI in Japanese females.

Association of the smoothelin (SMTN) gene with cerebral infarction in men: a haplotype-based case-control study.

Abstract: Smoothelin is a specific type of cytoskeletal protein found in smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Several previous research studies have examined the relationship between smoothelin and atherosclerotic plaque. The aim of the present study was to further assess the association between the human SMTN gene and cerebral infarction (CI) using a haplotype-based case–control study. A total of 168 CI patients and 259 supercontrols were genotyped for the five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) used as genetic markers for the human SMTN gene (rs2074738, rs5997872, rs56095120, rs9621187 and rs10304). Data were analyzed for three separate groups that included total subjects, men and women. The genotypic distribution of rs10304 for men showed a significant difference between the control and CI groups. In addition, the frequency of the C-T-T-A haplotype (established by rs5997872, rs56095120, rs9621187 and rs10304) was significantly higher in the CI versus the control group (p = 0.013), while the frequency of the C-A-T-G h...

TGF-β1-induced LPP expression dependant on Rho kinase during differentiation and migration of bone marrow-derived smooth muscle progenitor cells

Abstract: Lipoma preferred partner (LPP) has been identified as a protein which is highly selective for smooth muscle progenitor cells (SMPCs) and regulates differentiation and migration of SMPCs, but mechanisms of LPP expression are not elucidated clearly. The aim of the present study was to discuss the mechanisms by which LPP expression is regulated in the differentiation and migration of SMPCs induced by TGF-β1. It was found that TGF-β1 could significantly increase the expression of LPP, smooth muscle α-actin, smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC), and smoothelin in SMPCs. Moreover, inactivation of Rho kinase (ROK) with ROK inhibitors significantly inhibited LPP mRNA expression in TGF-β1-treated SMPCs and mouse aortic smooth muscle cells (MAoSMCs). At the same time, LPP silencing with short interfering RNA significantly decreased SMPCs migration. In conclusion, LPP appears to be a ROK-dependant SMPCs differentiation marker that plays a role in regulating SMPCs migration.

Morphological and molecular characterization of healthy human ascending aorta.

Abstract: Knowledge of the characteristics of the normal human aorta has been constrained by lack of data on fresh aortic tissue, especially from healthy individuals. In this study, the gene expression and morphological characteristics of the thoracic ascending aorta (AA) of healthy organ donors have been evaluated, with the aim of providing reference data for the analysis of pathological AAs. We analysed by RT-PCR the differential expression of mRNAs coding for myocardin, smoothelin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and the ED-A isoform of fibronectin (ED-A FN) in AA specimens from donors, integrating the results with immunohistochemical analysis of the same targets. Morphological and morphometric characteristics of the AAs were also evaluated. In order to account for possible regional variations in wall structure, the convexity of the aortic profile was compared to the concavity. No differences in gene expression occurred for any of the target genes between the concavity and the convexity of AAs. Immunohistochemistry revealed a different distribution of total FN and of its ED-A isoform in the media and in the intima. Smoothelin is expressed by the majority of cells in the media, with some positive cells also in the intima. Alpha-SMA is expressed in all the tunicae. Immunohistochemistry also revealed in the convexity of 50% of AAs the presence of discrete areas in the subadventital media with altered structure and cell morphology and with altered gene expression, resulting positive for ED-A FN and alpha-SMA, but not for smoothelin, indicating the occurrence of early lesions also in macroscopically healthy AAs.

Chapter 82 – Development of the Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage

Abstract: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are responsible for the coordination of physiologic processes required for maintenance of organismal homeostasis ranging from the regulation of vascular tone and airway mechanics to digestion and elimination. The unique capacity of SMCs to modulate their phenotype from a contractile to a synthetic cell is attributable to the dynamic regulation of the SMC lineage-restricted genes, including SM-α-actin, SM-myosin heavy chain, SM22α, calponin, telokin, and smoothelin. The expression of these genes is regulated, and modulated, by the myocardin family of transcriptional coactivators. The lineage relationships that define and distinguish functionally distinct subsets of vascular and visceral SMCs remain poorly understood. The embryologic origins of SMCs are complex and include both mesodermally and ectodermally derived progenitors that hone to specific locations throughout the body where they differentiate and subserve distinct functions. The differentiation and specification of SMCs from stem and progenitor cells involves interplay between extracellular matrix components, integrins and the timed expression of transcription factors and their co-activators. Elucidation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the development and differentiation of the SMC lineage provides fundamental insights into smooth muscle cell biology and the unique capacity of this muscle cell lineage to respond to injury and adapt to environmental stress.

Differentiation potential and metabolic analysis of satellite cells and amniotic fluid stem cells

Abstract: We have recently characterized two distinct populations of Satellite Cells (SCs), defined as Low Proliferative Clones (LPC) and High Proliferative Clones (HPC), that differ for proliferation, egenerative potential and mitochondrial coupling efficiency. In here, we have deep investigated their cell biology and characterized features that remark their intrinsic differences retrievable also at the initial phases of their cloning. LPC and HPC can indeed be istinguished for characteristic mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) just after isolation from their parental fibre. This is merged by mitochondrial redox state measured via NAD+/NADH analysis- and alternative respiratory CO2 production in cloned cells, which are accountable for metabolic differences reflected by alternative expression of the glycolytic enzyme Pfkfb3. In addition also mitochondrial Ca2+ handling and the sensitivity to apoptosis triggered via the intrinsic pathway are modified as well as the size of the mitochondrial network. In conclusion, we were able to determine which clone represents the suitable stem cell within the SCs population. These further experimental observations report novel physiological features in the cell biology of SCs populations before and after cloning, highlighting an intrinsic heterogeneity on which the stemness of the satellite cell is likely to depend. In the second part of my work we have also investigated their potential to trans-differentiate into smooth muscle cells. Enteric Nervous System normally interacts with muscle cells to control the peristaltic and secretory activity of the gut wall. Incomplete gut colonization by neural crest cells causes Hirschsprung’s disease, characterized by aganglionosis of the distal bowel. Multipotent, self-renewing enteric precursor neurosphere-like bodies (NLBs) -capable of generating neurons and glia derived from the neural crest- can be isolated from the gut of mice, rats, and human and they are able to colonize the gut after transplantation. Our aim is to understand the relationship between satellite cells-derived muscle precursor cells (MPCs) and NLBs using an in vitro co-culture model: this will be useful in perspective of a tissue engineering approach for bowel regeneration and skeletal muscle. Our records highlighted that NLBs were able to form new myotubes in presence of MPCs. Co-cultures in myogenic medium showed a remarkable improvement of MPCs ifferentiation by NLBs, promoting the formation of sarcomeric striatures onto myotubes and increasing the desmin expression of MPCs. On the other side, using neurogenic medium MPCs-NLBs showed a neural-like phenotype. As future perspectives, we need to understand the relationship between MPCs and NLBs and if the synapses are involved in this process; to verify if the seeding on a biocompatible polymer influences the behaviour of neural cells; and we must confirm these data with an in vivo skeletal and smooth muscle differentiation. We have finally explored the possibility of deriving smooth muscle cells from a different source, taking in consideration the difficulties related to the expansion of both skeletal and smooth muscle progenitors. Therefore, we aim to derive functional smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from non-muscle cells, such as human Amniotic Fluid Stem (hAFSC) cells. hAFSC were transduced using vector encoding ZsGreen under the αSMA promoter. SMhAFSC expressed significantly higher level of smooth muscle genes (such as αSMA, desmin, calponin and smoothelin expression) after selective culture condition. These features were confirmed by immunofluorescence, demonstrating a single lineage commitment; TEM established increased intermediate filaments, dense bodies and glycogen deposits in SMhAFSC, similar pattern compared to SMCs; and sequential imaging analyses demonstrated that SMhAFSC have a higher contractile potential than hAFSC. Consecutive single cell sampling showed the presence of voltagedependent calcium activated potassium channels on differentiated SMhAFSC and showed a higher production of carbon dioxide. In conclusion, we were able to generate to functional SMCs starting from a non-muscle precursor; secondly the transduction process may represent a valuable tool to select SM committed population. This step may eventually overcome the well-known problem of expanding SM progenitors, making these cells amenable to tissue engineering.

Smoothelin, a new marker for smooth muscle hamartoma

Abstract: ejd.2012.1744 Auteur(s) : Maria Jose Espineira-Carmona1, Jose Aneiros-Fernandez2, Maria-Sierra Giron Prieto3, Victor Carriel4, Maria Antonia Fernandez1, Augustin Buendia-Eisman5, Antonio Campos4, Miguel Alaminos Mingorance4, Salvador Arias-Santiago1,4,5 salvadorarias@hotmail.es 1 Dermatology Unit, 2 Pathology Unit, San Cecilio University Hospital, Av Dr. Oloriz 16, Granada 18012, Spain 3 Metropolitan District, Granada, Spain 4 Histology Department, School of Medicine, Granada, Spain 5 Dermatology [...]