Increased Intracellular Lipid Accumulation in Cholesterol Loaded VSMCs upon MRTFA Overexpression
Accumulation of lipids in in the arterial wall is a key feature of atherosclerosis. In atherosclerotic plaque from human and mouse origin it has recently become appreciated that more than 50% of total foam cells are derived from vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) suggesting a much larger role for VSMCs in foam cell formation then previously assumed. The molecular mechanism behind this process and clinical significance remains yet to be elucidated. Myocardin Related Transcription Factor –A (MRTFA) is a transcriptional co‐activator that has been demonstrated to play a key role in pathological vascular remodelling including progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Here we aim to investigate the functional role of MRTFA on cholesterol loading of VSMCs.