The role of pericytes in homeostasis and cardiovascular disease: A comprehensive review - PubMed
a day ago
- #Vascular Biology
- #Pericytes
- #Cardiovascular Disease
- Pericytes are critical mural cells in the vascular wall, playing key roles in vascular integrity and microcirculatory homeostasis.
- Pericyte dysfunction is implicated in various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and ischemic stroke.
- The review highlights pericyte roles in atherosclerosis (plaque neovascularization and instability), myocardial I/R injury (microvascular permeability and fibrosis), PAH (vascular remodeling), and ischemic stroke (blood-brain barrier integrity).
- Preclinical models and clinical samples are used to explore pericyte dysfunction mechanisms and therapeutic potential.
- Key concepts include pericyte phenotypic plasticity, pericyte-endothelial cell crosstalk, and clinical relevance of pericyte subpopulation heterogeneity.
- The review aims to bridge basic research and clinical application for improved CVD treatments.