Work

Smooth muscle contractile cytoskeleton in health and disease

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Smooth muscle cells are widespread in the human body, found in a range of tissues from the vasculature to the gut, airways, bladder and so on. They can be found as isolated cells or organised into syncytia (groups of cells). The organisation of the contractile cytoskeleton (smooth muscle actin and myosin filaments) is less well understood than that of striated (cardiac and skeletal) muscle. This review aims to explore what is known, the potential effects of mutations in smooth muscle actin, myosin and tropomyosin and how they lead to disease, and to highlight what we have still to learn about the smooth muscle contractile cytoskeleton.

Source: Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility

DOI: 10.1007/s10974-026-09731-4

Authors: Glenn Carrington, Malika Zahedi, Michelle Peckham

Institution: University of Leeds

Language: English

Topic: Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,890