Sudden coronary death in the young: Evidence of contractile phenotype of smooth muscle cells in the culprit atherosclerotic plaque.

CONCLUSIONS: SMCs of coronary APs as well as from the underlying media from young SCD victims exhibit strong contractile phenotype. In the setting of critical stenosis, both intima and media SMC contractility might contribute to transient coronary spasm leading to myocardial ischemia and SCD.
PMID: 29776555 [PubMed - in process]

Source: Atherosclerosis - May 21, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Rizzo S, Coen M, Sakic A, De Gaspari M, Thiene G, Gabbiani G, Basso C, Bochaton-Piallat ML Tags: Int J Cardiol Source Type: research