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Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential
Daichao Ma, Qing Li, Hui Zhang. Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2025-04-10
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
BACKGROUND: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is closely linked to stroke and dementia, marked by structural and functional impairments of small blood vessels in the brain. SUMMARY: This review focuses on how vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) contribute to CSVD progression. SMCs regulate cerebral blood flow, maintain vascular structure, and support glymphatic waste clearance under physiological conditions. However, in the context of CSVD, these cells undergo pathological alterations, such as hypertrophy, degeneration, phenotypic switching, and extracellular matrix abnormalities. These dysregulations are associated with malfunctions in multiple signaling pathways or disrupted mechanical cellular responses. Emerging treatments, such as drugs targeting cyclic nucleotide pathways, show promise in improving blood flow and vascular stability. KEY MESSAGES: Despite progress, the molecular mechanisms underlying SMC dysfunction in CSVD remain incompletely understood. A deeper exploration of SMC biology, coupled with clinical translation of preclinical findings, is critical for developing effective therapies to address the escalating burden of CSVD.
Key findings
- These dysregulations are associated with malfunctions in multiple signaling pathways or disrupted mechanical cellular responses.
Why it matters
This review describes how vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction contributes to cerebral small vessel disease through changes such as hypertrophy, degeneration, and phenotypic switching. It notes that emerging treatments targeting cyclic nucleotide pathways show promise in animal or preclinical work, but the molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood and clinical translation is still needed.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Cerebrovascular Diseases) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Cerebrovascular Diseases: journal h-index 143 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Hui Zhang: h-index 18 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine: institution h-index 103 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40209682) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 32 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1159/000545796
- PubMed: 40209682
- Original source →
- Free full text: Cerebrovascular Diseases →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Ma, D., Li, Q., & Zhang, H. (2025). Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential. Cerebrovascular Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1159/000545796
Vancouver
Ma D, Li Q, Zhang H. Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential. Cerebrovascular Diseases. 2025. doi:10.1159/000545796. PMID: 40209682.
BibTeX
@article{ma2025-40209682,
author = {Ma, Daichao and Li, Qing and Zhang, Hui},
title = {{Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Dysfunction in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential}},
journal = {Cerebrovascular Diseases},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1159/000545796},
pmid = {40209682},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000545796}
}
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