PVAT targets VSMCs to regulate vascular remodelling: angel or demon

Abstract

Vascular remodelling refers to abnormal changes in the structure and function of blood vessel walls caused by injury, and is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and pulmonary hypertension. Among them, the neointimal hyperplasia caused by abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of vascular remodelling. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) can release vasoactive substances to target VSMCs and regulate the pathological process of vascular remodelling. Specifically, PVAT can promote the conversion of VSMCs phenotype from contraction to synthesis by secreting visfatin, leptin, and resistin, and participate in the development of vascular remodelling-related diseases. Conversely, it can also inhibit the growth of VSMCs by secreting adiponectin and omentin to prevent neointimal hyperplasia and alleviate vascular remodelling. Therefore, exploring and developing new drugs or other treatments that facilitate the beneficial effects of PVAT on VSMCs is a potential strategy for prevention or treatment of vascular remodelling-related cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords:

• Perivascular adipose tissue
• vascular smooth muscle cells
• adipokines
• atherosclerosis
• hypertension
• pulmonary arterial hypertension

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China [No. 81973668 and No. 81774130 and No. 81670268 and No. 81603600], Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hunan Province [No. 2018JJ1018 to Li Qin] and Hunan Provincial Key Discipline of Pharmaceutical Science.