Smooth muscle actin-α (SMA), also known as α2-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2), is a cytoskeleton protein in smooth muscle cells. It is encoded by the gene mapped to human chromosome 10q23.31. SMA is a vascular smooth muscle specific isoform,
Smooth muscle actin-α (SMA)/ α2-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2) interacts with β-myosin heavy chain and facilitates vascular smooth muscle cell contraction. The encoded protein regulates c-MET (tyrosine-protein kinase Met) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression in human lung adenocarcinoma cells, which positively and selectively mediates tumor progression. Thus, SMA can be used as a potential prognostic biomarker and/or target for treating metastatic lung adenocarcinoma. Mutation in the gene is associated with the development of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), iris flocculi, livedo reticularis, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and stenosis of the aortic vasa vasorum. In addition, variation in the gene expression leads to thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAAD).
