Figure 1.

Smooth muscle cell mechanical microenvironment. (A) Summary of the results from different studies about the effects of basement extracellular matrix proteins (Col IV, Laminin, etc.) or transitional, also known as interstitial, extracellular matrix (Col I, Fibronectin, and Lumican) to the SMC phenotype. (B) How changes in the substrate stiffness can affect the SMC phenotype. Extracellular matrix proteins (ECM), Collagen type IV (Col IV), and Collagen type I (Col I). The SMC drawings were adapted from Servier Medical Art (SMART); https://smart.servier.com/ (accessed on 17 August 2021).