Vascular smooth muscle cells maintain plasticity and contribute to vulnerable plaque formation in carotid artery disease. The study aimed to establish a vascular cell biobank to examine the phenotype and protein expression of VSMCs as the disease progresses from stable to ruptured lesions. Carotid artery stenosis samples were collected during carotid endarterectomy and the VSMCs were isolated and cultured. The cell-state was indirectly analysed by establishing a gene panel. Direct analysis was performed with live-cell imaging for migration and proliferation behaviour.
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