Therapeutic targets and drugs for hyper-proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells

Background Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play an important role in the biosynthetic, proliferative, and contractile functions of vessel walls. Hyper-proliferation of VSMCs is a crucial event associated with the pathogenesis of various vascular diseases including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and re-stenosis. Area covered A variety of studies have been performed to identify the signaling molecular targets or inhibitory drugs to suppress hyper-proliferation of VSMCs. Emerging studies have highlighted the relevance of targeting various signaling pathways, miRNAs, and post-translational modifications in controlling the hyper-proliferation of VSMCs. Expert opinion This review will introduce various inhibitors, a wide range of miRNAs, and different histone deacetylases related to the molecular targets and underlying signaling pathways involved in the regulation of VSMC hyper-proliferation. This will contribute to the development of promising approaches for the treatment of vascular diseases.