Abstract
Much of current research investigates the beneficial properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment for wounds and other forms of injury. In this review, we bring attention to and discuss the role of the pericyte, a cell type which shares much of the differentiation potential and regenerative properties of the MSC as well as specific roles in the regulation of angiogenesis, inflammation and fibrosis. Pericytes have been identified as dysfunctional or depleted in many disease states, and observing the outcomes of pericyte perturbation in models of disease and wound healing informs our understanding of overall pericyte function and identifies these cells as an important target in the development of therapies to encourage healing.
Highlights
IntroductionPericytes arecells cellsfound foundon onthe theoutside outside of of blood blood vessels vessels [1]
Human cells derived from adipose stem cells and expressing α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), PDGFRβ and neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2) can protect against diabetic retinopathy in a mouse model, causing revascularisation of the retina after injection which was not achieved by injection of human BM-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) [91]. This effect of pericyte injection was enhanced when the cells were pre-treated with TGF-β1. These results indicate that replacement of lost endogenous pericytes in a diabetic setting can encourage angiogenesis and vascular support, as is seen in acute models of injury, and are promising when considering the possibility that pericyte therapies may hold for treating diabetic pathologies associated with pericyte loss
A decrease in pericytes associated with the vasculature is well documented in the retinas of diabetic patients, and this results in the onset of diabetic retinopathy
Summary
Pericytes arecells cellsfound foundon onthe theoutside outside of of blood blood vessels vessels [1]. Thethe abluminal surface of those vessels and attribute structural integrity to the vessel wall. Pericyte abluminal surface of those vessels and attribute structural integrity to the vessel wall. Pericytes and ECs together create and maintain the shared basement membrane, the acellular component of the vessel wall [4]. This relationship allows pericytes to regulate the blood flow within vessels by virtue of high levels of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and myosin expression, which can bring about vessel constriction [5]. Pericytes have recently been found to regulate the diffusion of cells and proteins from the vessel to the surrounding tissue, influencing the infiltration of neutrophils [9,10] and macrophages [11], which suggests an additional role for pericytes as mediators of the inflammatory process
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