Where are pericytes derived from?
neural crest cells
Pericytes are believed to originate from either mesenchymal or neural crest cells. It has recently been reported that pericytes play important roles in the central nervous system (CNS) by regulating blood-brain barrier homeostasis and blood flow at the capillary level.
What are pericytes and where are they located?
Pericytes are cells present at intervals along the walls of capillaries (and post-capillary venules). In the CNS, they are important for blood vessel formation, maintenance of the blood–brain barrier, regulation of immune cell entry to the central nervous system (CNS) and control of brain blood flow.
What are pericytes made of?
Pericytes (previously known as Rouget cells) are multi-functional mural cells of the microcirculation that wrap around the endothelial cells that line the capillaries throughout the body.
Where do pericytes for the new capillary loop come from?
For example, pericytes can develop from the neurocrest in the forebrain and cardiac tracts (Bergwerff et al., 1998; Etchevers et al., 2002). Most commonly described and best understood, though, is their origin from mesenchymal stem cells (Creazzo et al., 1998).
How are pericytes made?
Pericytes are perivascular cells imbedded within the basement membrane of the endothelium of capillaries and postcapillary venules. Contact between the endothelial cell and the pericyte is made by cytoplasmic processes of the pericyte indenting the endothelial cell, and vice versa.
Are pericytes stem cells?
Within the brain, pericytes form part of the neurovascular unit and help maintain the blood-brain barrier (BBB). A recurring feature in the pericyte literature is the ability of pericytes to act as stem cells and differentiate into multiple cell types.
What are structural features of pericytes?
Pericyte structure
Pericytes have a very prominent nucleus compared to the flat nucleus of endothelial cells, which allows them to easily be distinguished from endothelial cells. They also contain dendrite-like extensions that wrap around the capillary wall to regulate blood flow.
Are pericytes in all capillaries?
Pericytes as Contractile Cells. Pericytes are found on almost all capillaries, as well as on small arterioles and venules. They are small cells located on the outside of the vessel, between the endothelial cell layer and the parenchyma.
Are pericytes mesenchymal cells?
Pericytes are widely believed to function as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) -multipotent tissue-resident progenitors with great potential for regenerative medicine. Cultured pericytes isolated from distinct tissues can differentiate into multiple cell types in vitro, or following transplantation in vivo.
Can pericytes differentiate into endothelial cells?
Under adequate conditions, they may differentiate into cells belonging to mesodermal, endodermal or ectodermal lineages. Pericytes support endothelial cells and play an important role in stabilizing the vessel wall at the microcirculation level.
Do pericytes differentiate to osteoblasts?
Furthermore, in vivo pericyte-lineage-tracing studies demonstrated that endogenous pericytes also differentiate into osteoblasts and osteocytes and contribute to bone fracture healing as a cellular source of osteogenic cells.
Can pericytes give rise to endothelial cells?
Pericytes use cytoplasmic processes to surround the abluminal surface of the endothelial tube (2). They share and co-produce a basement membrane with endothelial cells, demonstrating that pericyte-endothelial interaction plays a key role in basement membrane formation, maintenance, and remodeling.
Do pericytes express CD31?
Pericytes, cells that express both CD31 and desmin, were found both in the walls of tumor-associated vessels and within tumors.
Are pericytes endothelial cells?
Endothelial cells comprise the inner lining of vessels, while pericytes encompass blood microvessels such as blood capillaries, pre-capillary arterioles, pre-capillary venules, and collecting venules (1).