Current opinions on the control and role of vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion, calcium sensitization, and the cytoskeleton in vascular structure and function

Abstract

Vascular smooth muscle contraction and relaxation play a preponderant role on the active (acute) and structural (long-term) control of vascular diameter. This editorial overview summarizes and highlights the opinions expressed in seven reviews contained in this special topic issue of Microcirculation. The reviews address diverse aspects of the mechanisms that influence cell adhesion, calcium homeostasis, and cytoskeletal remodeling, and how these mechanisms affect vascular structure and function at different levels of the circulation.

Keywords: vascular diameter; vascular remodeling; vasoconstriction.