Identification of a Potential Role for the Adventitia in Vascular Lesion Formation After Balloon Overstretch Injury of Porcine Coronary Arteries

Abstract

These data suggest that adventitial myofibroblasts contribute to the process of vascular lesion formation by proliferating, synthesizing growth factors, and possibly migrating into the neointima. Increased synthesis of alpha-smooth muscle actin observed in the adventitial cells after arterial injury may constrict the injured vessel and contribute to the process of arterial remodeling and late lumen loss after angioplasty.