Potential role of vascular smooth muscle cell-like progenitor cell therapy in the suppression of experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms

► Muscle-derived stem cells were differentiated in vitro with PDGF-BB. ► These cells showed features of vascular smooth muscle cell-like progenitor cells. ► VSMC-PC incubation showed decreased abdominal aortic aneurysm formation rate. ► Direct implantation of VSMC-PCs were observed in the intima of aneurysmal aortas. ► Significant decrease in MMPs was observed after VSMC-PC incubation.