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Vascular smooth muscle cells

Beyond the cytoplasm: nuclear α-actin influences differentiation

Nature Cardiovascular Research volume 2, pages 864–866 (2023)Cite this article

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Reduced expression of smooth muscle α-actin (αSMA), a crucial piece of the vascular smooth muscle cell cytoplasmic contractile apparatus, contributes to these cells’ dysfunction in vascular diseases. αSMA is now shown to localize in the nucleus and bind chromatin-remodeling complexes to regulate smooth muscle contractile gene expression.

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Fig. 1: A nuclear role for αSMA in vascular SMC.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by US National Institute of Health R01HL146465 to D.G.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Delphine Gomez

  2. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Delphine Gomez

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  1. Delphine Gomez
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Correspondence to Delphine Gomez.

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Gomez, D. Beyond the cytoplasm: nuclear α-actin influences differentiation. Nat Cardiovasc Res 2, 864–866 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44161-023-00343-6

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