Challenges in Pericyte Research: Pericyte-Specific and Subtype-Specific Markers

Excerpt

Pericytes are perivascular cells that cover small blood vessels. Recent studies have demonstrated that pericytes play important roles in angiogenesis, blood–brain barrier integrity maintenance, and cerebral blood flow regulation [1]. In addition, pericytes also display stem cell properties and are able to differentiate into various other cell types, such as fibroblast-like cells and microglia/macrophages, in pathological conditions [1]. Consistent with these important functions, pericytes are actively involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke, and thus may be targeted in the treatment of these neurological disorders. It should be noted, however, that there are two major challenges in pericyte research, which may be responsible for some controversial findings in the field. …