Abstract:

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are predominant constituents of the vessel walls and contribute to maintaining vascular function of the blood vessels. VSMC phenotypic switching from a quiescent contractile phenotype to a proliferative and migratory phenotype induced by several pathological stimulations, which is involved in the pathogenesis of a serious cardiovascular disease (CVDs). In recent years, cardiovascular health in children has become an increasingly prominent problem, posing a heavy burdens on economic development. In this review, we summarized the research on VSMCs phenotypic switching in pediatric CVDs such as Kawasaki disease, aneurysm, primary hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, coarctation of the aorta, and Takayasu arteritis, which is aim to provide potential targets for the prevention and treatment of CVDs in children.

Key words: vascular smooth muscle cell, phenotype switching, cardiovascular disease, child