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Isolation of Type I and Type II Pericytes from Mouse Skeletal Muscles
10:07

Isolation of Type I and Type II Pericytes from Mouse Skeletal Muscles

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Pericytes: developmental, physiological, and pathological perspectives, problems, and promises

Annika Armulik1, Guillem Genové, Christer Betsholtz

  • 1Division of Vascular Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.

Developmental Cell
|August 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pericytes regulate blood vessel development and function, impacting diseases like diabetic retinopathy and cancer. Ongoing research clarifies their identity, origins, and potential as therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Pericytes are mural cells crucial for microvessel integrity and function.
  • They play roles in development, homeostasis, and diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, fibrosis, and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the historical and current understanding of pericyte biology.
  • To highlight emerging concepts and challenges in pericyte research.
  • To discuss the potential of pericytes as therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on pericytes.
  • Analysis of studies investigating pericyte identity, ontogeny, and differentiation potential.
  • Examination of pericytes' roles in various physiological and pathological contexts.

Main Results:

  • Pericytes are implicated in vascular morphogenesis and homeostasis.
  • Evidence suggests some pericytes possess mesenchymal stem cell properties.
  • Confusion persists regarding pericyte identity, origin, and differentiation capacity.

Conclusions:

  • Pericytes are key regulators of microvascular function with broad implications in disease.
  • Further research is needed to resolve ambiguities surrounding pericyte identity and lineage.
  • Pericytes represent promising targets for therapeutic interventions in various conditions.

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