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Updated: May 12, 2026

Isolation of Type I and Type II Pericytes from Mouse Skeletal Muscles
Published on: May 26, 2017
Renal pericytes: multifunctional cells of the kidneys
Ania Stefańska1, A M Stefańska, Bruno Péault
1University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, Queens Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Avenue, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK.
Abstract:
Pericytes have become a hot topic in renal biology. They play a critical physiological role in vessel development, maintenance and remodelling through active communication with their vascular partners-endothelial cells-and modulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Multiple functions for renal pericytes have been described; specialised perivascular populations participate in glomerular filtration, regulate medullary blood flow and contribute to kidney fibrosis by differentiation into collagen-generating myofibroblasts. Interestingly, the origin of renin-producing cells of the juxtaglomerular region is attributed to the perivascular cell lineage; we have observed the coincidence of renin and pericyte marker expression during human kidney development. Finally, pericytes have been shown to share features with mesenchymal stem cells, which places them as potential renal progenitor cell candidates. Since renal diseases are often associated with microvascular complications, renal pericytes may emerge as new targets for the treatment of kidney disease.
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