What Are Pericytes?

Pericytes, also called Rouget cells and parietal cells, are cells that surround endothelial cells in capillaries and veins throughout the body and can contract.

Pericytes

Pericytes are also called Rouget cells and

Pericytes are embedded in capillary endothelial cells

In the central nervous system, pericytes surround the endothelial cells. These two cells are easy to distinguish. Peripheral cells have obvious round nuclei and endothelial cells are flat, elongated nuclei. Pericytes produce finger-like extensions to regulate capillary blood flow. Pericytes and endothelial cells share a basement membrane, and there are multiple cell connections on the basement membrane, including multiple

The blood-brain barrier is a selective permeability region between the blood circulation system and the central nervous system. The blood-brain barrier is composed of endothelial cells, which protects the brain and the central nervous system and their functions. Pericytes form in the blood-brain barrier. It also plays an important role in maintaining its selective permeability. It was once thought that astrocytes play a key role in the formation of the blood-brain barrier, but it was later discovered that pericytes play a greater role in the formation of the blood-brain barrier. Pericytes are responsible for the vesicle transport and tightly connected form. In addition, peripheral cells suppress the effects of central nervous system immune cells on the formation of the blood-brain barrier, and also inhibit the expression of related molecules that increase vascular permeability. So pericytes play a vital role in the formation of the blood-brain barrier.

Pericytes also play an important role in maintaining the blood-brain barrier function, and it does this by controlling blood flow. Pericytes are a kind of shrinkable cells. Through the contraction of cells, pericytes can control which particles can flow in blood vessels. This regulation is very useful for maintaining the function of the nervous system, because it can prevent some molecules, especially large ones. Molecules enter the brain to prevent damage to the brain. Without pericytes, some large plasma proteins can easily enter the brain through transcytosis. In addition, pericytes also play an important role in promoting microcirculation and slowing brain aging.

Angiogenesis

Certain pericytes can regulate the proliferation and differentiation of endothelial cells, thereby regulating angiogenesis. For example, microvascular pericytes, which may not be able to contract due to lack of actin. These cells communicate with endothelial cells through gap junctions to regulate endothelial cell proliferation or selective inhibition. Without this regulation, vascular proliferation And vascular malformations will occur.