Abstract
Pericytes are mural cells that are found ubiquitously throughoutthe microvasculature. Their main physiological roles are to support endothelial cells, regulate microvascular blood flow, and respond to perturbations in their microenvironment. Pericytes are sensitive to the metabolic abnormalities that are characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus, including dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia. As a consequence of these abnormalities, advanced glycation end products, reactive oxygen species, polyol pathway activation, and protein kinase C isoform activation cause pericyte dysfunction and contribute to the pathogenesis of many common complications of type 2 diabetes. Pericyte dysfunction is known to be a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, beta cell dysfunction, and peripheral artery disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Therapies should target pericytes to treat these common diabetic complications.
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