Table 1.
Cell Type/Features | Con-vSMCs | Syn-vSMCs | Pericytes |
---|---|---|---|
Morphology | large, spindle-like | small, spindle-like | colony-like, flat, polygonal |
Proliferation rate | + | +++ | + |
Cell size | +++ | ++ | + |
Endoplasmic reticulum | dilated | nondilated | dilated+ nondilated |
Markers | SMA, calponin, NG2, PDGFRβ, SMMHC | SMA, calponin, NG2, PDGFRβ, SMMHClow | SMA, calponin NG2, PDGFRβ |
ECM mRNA expression | collagen Ihigh, collagen IVhigh, fibronectin, laminin | collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectin, laminin | collagen I, collagen IV, fibronectinhigh, laminin |
ECM deposition | collagen I, collagen IVfibrous, fibronectin, laminindiffuse, elastin | collagen Ilow, collagen IVglobular, fibronectin, laminindiffuse | collagen IVglobular, fibronectin, lamininpunctuate |
MMPs | 14 (MT-1) | 2, 9 | 2, 14 |
Mesenchymal differentiation | — | — | adipogenic, osteogenic |
In vivo integration | alignment, circumferential wrapping, tube narrowing | alignment | alignment, circumferential wrapping |
Migration | −/+ | +++ | ++ |
Invasion | −/+ | +++ | + |
Contractility | +++ | + | −/+ |
Note that values are relative to the three cell types examined.