Human models for smooth muscle cell differentiation. Focus on 'A novel in vitro model system for smooth muscle differentiation from human embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal cells'

摘要

the structure and function of smooth muscle cells (SMC) may be very similar from the vascular system to the gastrointestinal tract to the respiratory system, but they are known to react to stimuli in precise ways to enable tissue-specific actions to occur. The rationale for such differing responses is still largely unknown, and some of the most recent data suggest that they may originate from different progenitor populations. Perhaps the most well-studied smooth muscle progenitor cell is in the cranial neural crest of the embryo. Lineage tracing experiments have also shown that progenitor cells exist in the secondary heart field, somites, me-soangioblasts, proepicardium, splanchnic mesoderm and meso-thelium; other circulating stem cells are also able to give rise to SMC. It is difficult to study intracellular mechanisms governing the heterogeneity in the differentiation of SMC from these different progenitor populations without good in vitro models.