posted on Jul, 15 2005 @ 02:27 PM
Originally posted by gypsywoman
Soficrow:
Fibomuscular dysplasia is a condition in which an artery is constricted - not because of plaque build-up, but because the cells that line the artery
grow and accumulate in the artery. ........
How does this relate? I am not sure.
FYI - Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) does a lot more than constrict arteries - but much too much to write about now.
Main point - FMD involves a misfolded protein called a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA). ...The a-SMA multiplies and takes over stem cells, turning them
into pathogenic myofibroblasts. The myofibroblasts then multiply and take over tissue. ...The stem cells mainly infected are connective tissue stem
cells called "fibroblasts" - and are present on the skin.
...To track the relevance - you need to look at "actin," the various kinds of connective tissue, and the role of "proteinaceous capsids" in
spreading infectious prions, and helping them mutate into new strains.
...I can't guarantee the relevance - haven't researched this specific disease - BUT, willing to bet LOTS that it's the right track.
Run a search on it using key words like +'aberrant wound healing' OR 'tissue remodeling' OR fibroplasia OR myofibroblasts +'actin cytoskeleton'
OR 'actin filaments'
...Most likely, your disease is a mutated form downstream of "a-smooth muscle actin" and probably involves a new strain (maybe an enzyme or
protease) - plus one or more other infectious pathogens, either as vectors or integral to the new strain.
EDIT to add - Oh yeah - the misfolded proteins create fibers - fibrous protein deposits - it's kinda the FMD signature.
...also sorry - writing on the run - but think this is quite important - can't do the research, but can steer you.
.
[edit on 15-7-2005 by soficrow]