Differential analysis of neural crest and mesodermally derived VSMC in the aorta

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are derived from distinct embryonic origins. Vessels originating from differing smooth muscle cell populations have distinct vascular and pathological properties of calcification, atherosclerosis, and structural defects such as aneurysm and coarctation. We hypothesized that domains within a vessel vary in phenotype based on embryonic origin.

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