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Human
Brachiocephalic Artery Smooth Muscle Cells (HBcASMC)
are primary smooth muscle cells isolated from normal
brachiocephalic arteries and are cryopreserved at
third passage. HASMC can be propagated at least 12
doublings. Human Carotid Artery Smooth Muscle Cells
(HCtASMC) are primary smooth muscle cells isolated
from normal carotid arteries and are cryopreserved
at third passage. HCtASMC can be propagated at least
10 doublings. The brachiocephalic artery is the
first branch from the aortic arch. It
bifurcates to form the right common carotid artery,
which supplies blood to the head and neck, and the
right subclavian artery, which supplies blood to the
head and right arm.
Both of the corresponding left arteries branch
directly from the aortic arch.
HBcASMC
and HCtASMC provide an in vitro system to
explore in vivo findings. Apolipoprotein
E (apoE) knockout mice serve as a model for
atherosclerotic lesion development, as fibrous
plaques commonly form in the brachiocephalic artery
after 6 months of a high-fat diet, thus providing a
small well-defined area in which to study the
progressive loss of plaque stability and eventual
rupture1,2,3. p53 protects
brachiocephalic and aortic smooth muscle cells
against apoptosis while promoting apoptosis in
macrophages, thus protecting against atherosclerosis
development4. Reduced blood flow during
pregnancy is associated with hypotrophy of the
endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the carotid
artery in the guinea pig5.
1.
Williams, H et al., Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.
22(5):788 (2002).
2.
Rosenfeld, ME et al., Cur Atheroscler Rep. 4(3):238
(2002).
3.
Johnson, JL & Jackson, CL. Atherosclerosis.
154(2):399 (2001).
4.
Mercer, J et al., Circ Res. 96(6):667 (2005).
5.
Jovanovic, S & Jovanovic, A. Hum Reprod.
13(4):1074 (1998).
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