Establishing vascular smooth muscle from coronary arteries

ABSTRACT

Vascular smooth muscle cells [VSMCs] have the ability to transform into non-contractile, proliferating cells which can either be reversible or irreversible [such as that occur in some diseases] and can be accompanied by a change in the function of VSMCs. Isolation and culturing of VSMCs is important to address the mechanisms of such transformation. In the present study, VSMCs were isolated from porcine coronary arteries. RT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence techniques were employed to confirm the identity of the cells. The large- and small-conductance calcium activated potassium channels [BKCa and SK3, respectively] were clearly present in the cells. Data from the present study demonstrate the method of developing VSMCs model from blood vessels which can be used to investigate mechanisms that are involved in the change of cells function in different diseases and identification of pharmacology of several drugs that are of significant importance in the treatment of vascular dysfunction