Actin expression in smooth muscle cells of rat aortic intimal thickening, human atheromatous plaque, and cultured rat aortic media

A bstract. Actin of smooth muscle cells of rat and human aortic media shows a predominance of the a-isoform. In experimental rat aortic intimal thickening, in human atheromatous plaque, and in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells, there is a typical switch in actin expression with a predominance of the /3-form and a noticeable amount of y-form. This pattern of actin expression represents a new reliable protein-chemical marker ofexperimental and human atheromatous smooth muscle cells