Figure 9.

Lineage tracing analysis indicates that S100β⁺ stem cells, present sparsely in the normal carotid artery wall, expand and undergo differentiation to smooth muscle-like cells (SMC) following ligation-injury and contribute to pathologic neointima formation. Daily moderate alcohol gavage attenuated neointima formation concomitant with reduced S100β⁺ cell expansion. In vitro, alcohol attenuated Sonic Hedgehog-stimulated myogenic differentiation of isolated murine S100β⁺ vascular stem cells. Regulation of S100β⁺ stem cells may be an important mechanism mediating the anti-atherogenic effects of moderate alcohol consumption.