What does smooth muscle actin do?
Alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), an actin isoform that contributes to cell-generated mechanical tension, is normally restricted to cells of vascular smooth muscle, but SMA can also be expressed in certain non-muscle cells, most notably myofibroblasts.
What cells express alpha smooth muscle actin?
Alpha-smooth muscle actin is expressed by fibroblastic cells of the ovine anterior cruciate ligament and its free tendon graft during remodeling. J Orthop Res. 2002 Mar;20(2):310-7.
Do fibroblasts express SMA?
Isolated cardiac fibroblasts cultured in plates showed high α-SMA expression localized in stress fibers, exhibited activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and synthesized large amounts of extracellular matrix proteins.
What does alpha smooth muscle actin stain?
Alpha smooth muscle actin antibody (ab5694) stains smooth muscle cells in vessel walls, gut wall, and myometrium. Myoepithelial cells in breast and salivary gland are also stained. ab5694 reacts with tumors arising from smooth muscles and myoepithelial cells.
Do endothelial cells express smooth muscle actin?
Alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive endothelial cells have not been found in adult aortic endothelium except valve leaflets. These cells express both endothelial markers and definite smooth muscle cell markers and were only occasionally observed in thoracic aorta of wild type mice and rats.
What does SMA stain for?
SMA (Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin) is recommended for the detection of specific antigens of interest in normal and neoplastic tissues, as an adjunct to conventional histopathology using non-immunologic histochemical stains. $ 440.95.
What cells express alpha SMA?
Myofibroblasts are conventionally identified by co-expression of collagen I and α-SMA [27–30], although α-SMA is also expressed by smooth muscle cells. α-SMA has been used not only as a differentiation marker but also as a functional marker for myofibroblasts [31–33].
What does Alpha SMA do?
ACTA2 (commonly referred to as alpha-smooth muscle actin or α-SMA) is often used as a marker of myofibroblast formation. Studies have shown that ACTA2 is associated with TGF β pathway that enhances contractile properties of Hepatic Stellate Cells leading to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
What does a positive smooth muscle AB mean?
If your results show a high amount of SMA antibodies, it probably means you have the type 1 form of autoimmune hepatitis. A lower amount may mean you have the type 2 form of the disease. If no SMAs were found, it means your liver symptoms are being caused by something different than autoimmune hepatitis.
What type of cells are smooth muscle cells?
Smooth muscle cells are spindle shaped, have a single, centrally located nucleus, and lack striations. They are called involuntary muscles. Cardiac muscle has branching fibers, one nucleus per cell, striations, and intercalated disks. Its contraction is not under voluntary control.
What are smooth muscle antibodies?
Smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) are autoantibodies, proteins produced by the body’s immune system that recognize and attack its own actin, a protein found in smooth muscle and other tissues, especially the liver. This test detects and measures the amount ( titer) of SMA (or antibody against actin) in the blood.
What causes elevated actin antibodies?
A significant increase in the blood titer of SMA or actin antibody and/or ANA is usually due to autoimmune hepatitis type 1. A small increase in SMA or actin antibody may be present in up to 50% of patients with primary biliary cholangitis ( PBC ).
What is the abbreviation for smooth muscle actin?
How is Smooth Muscle Actin abbreviated? SMA stands for Smooth Muscle Actin. SMA is defined as Smooth Muscle Actin very frequently.
What is an anti smooth muscle?
Anti-smooth muscle antibody is a blood test that detects the presence of antibodies against smooth muscle. The antibody is useful in making a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.