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04 January, 2024 by Anshul (neobio)
Have you ever wondered what enables our bodies to move effortlessly and seamlessly? How do simple actions like stretching, squeezing, or the continual beating of the heart happen? On a microscopic scale, these are complex processes facilitated by key protein structures, such as smooth muscle actin, commonly known as SMA.
The SMA, or the alpha actin 2 gene (ACTA2), as it’s better known in the scientific realm, plays the leading role in muscle contraction. Myofibroblasts and blood vessels carry the SMA marker extensively. However, other types of cells, identified as the spindle cells, are mostly positive for SMA indicating the pervasive presence and influence of this critical protein. Simply put, SMA is the molecular powerhouse that keeps our muscles going, contracts our organs, and quite literally, keeps our hearts beating.
📝 Quick Facts about SMA (Smooth Muscle Actin)
– Acronym: SMA
– Official name: Alpha Actin 2 Gene (ACTA2)
– Involved in: Muscle contraction and cellular interactions
– Found in: Myofibroblasts, Blood Vessels, Spindle Cells
– Functions: Enables contractile properties in cells
– Association: TGF-β pathway, leading to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis
Smooth muscle actin’s presence is vital in the functioning and maintenance of bodily functions. The large amounts of actin, along with myosin, another significant protein, found in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells, make it feasible for muscles to contract and relax.
The understanding of SMA sheds light on how our muscles function daily without a glitch. In this guide, we will dive deep into the role of SMA in muscle contraction, the ACTA2 gene’s function in smooth muscle contraction and much more. Read on and let’s answer all your SMA related queries together in this comprehensive guide.
Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA) is an essential player in our muscle function, and its role can’t be fully understood without diving into the gene responsible for its encoding – the ACTA2 gene.
ACTA2, which stands for “Actin Alpha 2”, is a gene located on 10q22-q24 in the human genome. It is responsible for encoding the protein known as SMA. ACTA2, also known as alpha-actin-2, is a member of the actin protein family, which is highly conserved and found in nearly all mammals. This gene plays a crucial role in the contractile apparatus of smooth muscles.
The ACTA2 gene encodes the Smooth Muscle Actin protein, which is a major component of the contractile apparatus in smooth muscle cells. In simple terms, this protein enables the muscle cells to contract and relax, which is vital for various bodily functions like maintaining blood pressure and controlling the movement of food through the digestive tract.
Mutations within the ACTA2 gene can have a significant impact on vascular health. These mutations are known to cause a variety of vascular diseases, including thoracic aortic disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, Moyamoya disease, and multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome. These conditions often result from the impaired function of the smooth muscle cells, which is directly linked to the abnormal ACTA2 gene.
Understanding the ACTA2 gene and its role in encoding the SMA protein is an integral part of comprehending the function and significance of SMA in our bodies. At NeoBiotechnologies, we strive to further this understanding through our manufacture of highly validated and monospecific Rabbit Recombinant Monoclonal Antibodies, which are ideal for a variety of research applications.
In the next section, we will explore the cellular interactions involving SMA and delve deeper into how SMA impacts our health and bodily functions. Stay tuned as we continue our journey into the fascinating world of SMA and its crucial role in muscle function and vascular health.
Smooth Muscle Actin (SMA) plays a crucial role in cellular interactions, especially in myofibroblast formation, blood vessel function, neurovascular coupling, and tumor microenvironments. Let’s explore these concepts in more depth.
One of the key roles of SMA is in myofibroblast formation. Myofibroblasts are cells critical for wound healing due to their ability to contract and close wounds. Our topic expert, Dr. Atul K. Tandon, Founder and CEO at NeoBiotechnologies, explains that SMA is often used as a marker for myofibroblast formation. It’s associated with the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) pathway, which enhances the contractile properties of cells, leading to wound closure. However, excessive myofibroblast formation can lead to fibrotic diseases like liver cirrhosis.
SMA-positive vessels are those where the cells have substantial expression of actin. These cells include myofibroblasts and blood vessels. These SMA-positive vessels play a significant role in blood flow regulation and tissue oxygen supply. The interaction between SMA-positive vessels and endothelial cells, which line the inner layer of blood vessels, is critical for maintaining vascular health.
In the brain, the process of Neurovascular Coupling (NVC) ensures that active neurons receive enough blood supply to meet their energy demands. SMA plays a critical role in regulating the diameter of blood vessels, thereby influencing blood flow in response to changes in neuronal activity. This balance between brain activity and energy substrates is pivotal for understanding NVC and maintaining brain health.
In the context of cancer, SMA plays a substantial role in creating the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) – the immediate environment in which a tumor exists. For instance, studies have shown that SMA-positive myofibroblasts in the stroma are responsible for collagen synthesis around tumors. This has been demonstrated in both human and murine Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), with increasing peritumoral infiltration of myofibroblasts correlated to poorer prognosis and increased recurrence of HCC.
In conclusion, SMA has a wide range of cellular interactions, each contributing to different aspects of health and disease. By understanding these interactions, researchers at top institutions like NeoBiotechnologies are developing highly specific monoclonal antibodies for research and potential therapeutic applications.
Smooth muscle actin (SMA) plays a vital role in cell contractility, especially in fibroblast cells. In this section, we’ll delve into the correlation between α-SMA expression and fibroblast contractile activity, the involvement of Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) in α-SMA expression, and the influence of α-SMA on wound healing and fibrotic diseases.
To understand the role of α-SMA in fibroblast contractility, let’s look at a study involving rat subcutaneous fibroblasts (SCFs) and lung fibroblasts (LFs). These two types of fibroblasts express different levels of α-SMA, with SCFs expressing lower levels and LFs expressing higher levels. When tested on silicone substrates of varying stiffness, the fibroblasts showed different contractile activities. On medium stiffness substrates, the percentage of cells producing wrinkles (a sign of contractility) matched the percentage of α-SMA–positive cells in each fibroblast population. This correlation suggests that α-SMA expression directly influences fibroblast contractile activity.
Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) is a protein that controls proliferation and cellular differentiation. TGFβ1, a type of TGFβ, was found to increase α-SMA expression and lattice contraction by SCFs to the levels of LFs. Conversely, TGFβ-antagonizing agents reduced α-SMA expression and lattice contraction by LFs to the level of SCFs. This indicates that TGFβ has a significant role in regulating α-SMA expression, thereby influencing fibroblast contractility.
The role of α-SMA extends beyond cellular contractility. It also plays a crucial role in wound healing and in the contraction of fibrotic tissues. This is because the increased contractile activity associated with α-SMA expression helps in closing wound tissues. Furthermore, α-SMA is expressed de novo (anew) in cultured fibroblasts, enhancing their contractile activity without any change in myosin heavy-chain expression. This is of significant interest to companies like NeoBiotechnologies, who are developing highly validated, monospecific Rabbit Recombinant Monoclonal Antibodies, ideal for various applications such as Immunohistochemistry, Flow Cytometry, Western Blotting, or Immunofluorescence.
In summary, SMA, particularly α-SMA, has a significant impact on fibroblast contractility. Its expression is influenced by proteins like TGFβ and plays a crucial role in physiological processes like wound healing and disease states like fibrosis. Understanding these mechanisms allows researchers and biotech companies to develop targeted treatments and improve patient outcomes.
The study of SMA (Smooth Muscle Actin) is critical to our understanding of many physiological processes and disease states. The pivotal role that SMA plays in muscle contraction, wound healing, and fibrosis underscores its importance. In addition, its impact on cell interactions, particularly within the tumor microenvironment in diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma, highlights the need for further research in this field.
The role of SMA in fibroblast contractility, a key process in wound healing and fibrotic diseases, is a particular area of interest. The correlation between α-SMA expression and fibroblast contractile activity, along with the influence of proteins like TGFβ on α-SMA expression, opens up new avenues for understanding and treating these conditions.
Looking ahead, the field of SMA research holds a great deal of promise. As we continue to delve deeper into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern SMA function, we can expect to uncover new insights that could pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies.
One exciting area of future research is exploring the role of SMA in neurovascular coupling (NVC) – the process by which brain activity regulates blood flow. This could have significant implications for understanding and treating neurodegenerative conditions.
Another promising area is the study of the ACTA2 gene, which encodes the α-SMA protein. Understanding how mutations in this gene affect vascular diseases could lead to new diagnostic and treatment approaches.
In conclusion, SMA is a complex and fascinating protein that plays a crucial role in many areas of human health and disease. Its study offers a wealth of opportunities to advance our understanding and treatment of a wide range of conditions.
As a research scientist, understanding SMA function is integral to your work. For validated and specific antibodies suitable for your research needs, check out NeoBiotechnologies’ range of monoclonal antibodies. Their antibodies are ideal for various applications, including Immunohistochemistry, Flow Cytometry, Western Blotting, and Immunofluorescence.
For more information on SMA, visit the resources page on NeoBiotechnologies’ website.
