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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Quantification of alignment of vascular smooth muscle cells

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Author(s):
Dorta, Marcel P. [1] ; de Brito, Isis V. [1] ; Pereira, Alexandre C. [2] ; Alencar, Adriano M. [1]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Phys, Dept Gen Phys, Lab Microrheol & Mol Physiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Inst Heart, Lab Genet & Mol Cardiol, Dept Cardiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Cytometry Part A; v. 93A, n. 5, p. 533-539, MAY 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 2
Abstract

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are essential components that keep the tonus of the arterial network, which is the channel used to conduct the blood from the heart to the peripheral areas of the body. It is known that mechanical and architectural changes in VSMCs may lead to functional modifications in the cardiovascular system; therefore, the quantitative characterization of these changes can help to elucidate questions that remain unclear in pathological situations, such as hypertension, vasospasm, vascular hypertrophy, and atherosclerosis. In this work, we have developed a new framework of image processing using the Sobel operator, associated with statistical analysis, to determine the degree of local alignment of actin filaments, which we found to be directly related with the distensibility of the arterial wall. We have also compared these results with the rigidity of the cytoskeleton of VSMCs. The results suggest that the alignment degree increases from peripheral arteries, such as carotid and femoral, to central arteries, as well coronary and thoracic aorta, which can indicate that the level of local alignment of the actin fibers in VSMCs is related with the mechanical behavior of the arterial wall. (c) 2018 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/21646-9 - Characterization of living cells by Interometric Techniques: Speckle and Digital Holographic Microscopy
Grantee:Isis Vasconcelos de Brito
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
FAPESP's process: 14/22102-2 - Characterization of cardiomyocytes dynamics by traction force microscopy (TFM) and Speckle
Grantee:Adriano Mesquita Alencar
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 12/07059-8 - Physical Properties that Trigger Mechanical Changes in Livin Cells
Grantee:Marcel Philippi Dorta
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master