Defining Endothelial Cell-Derived Factors That Promote Pericyte Recruitment and Capillary Network Assembly

We sought to identify and investigate the functional role of the major endothelial cell (EC)-derived factors that control pericyte recruitment to EC tubes and pericyte-induced tube maturation during capillary network formation. Approach and Results: We identify PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor)-BB, PDGF-DD, ET (endothelin)-1, TGF (transforming growth factor)-β, and HB-EGF (heparin-binding epidermal growth factor), as the key individual and combined regulators of pericyte assembly around EC tubes. Using novel pericyte only assays, we demonstrate that PDGF-BB, PDGF-DD, and ET-1 are the primary direct drivers of pericyte invasion. Their addition to pericytes induces invasion as if ECs were present. In contrast, TGF-β and HB-EGF have minimal ability to directly stimulate pericyte invasion. In contrast, TGF-β1 can act as an upstream pericyte primer to stimulate invasion in response to PDGFs and ET-1. HB-EGF stimulates pericyte proliferation along with PDGFs and ET-1. Using EC-pericyte cocultures, individual, or combined blockade of these EC-derived factors, or their pericyte receptors, using neutralizing antibodies or chemical inhibitors, respectively, interferes with pericyte recruitment and proliferation. As individual factors, PDGF-BB and ET-1 have the strongest impact on these events. However, when the blocking reagents are combined to interfere with each of the above factors or their receptors, more dramatic and profound blockade of pericyte recruitment, proliferation, and pericyte-induced basement membrane deposition occurs. Under these conditions, ECs form tubes that become much wider and less elongated as if pericytes were absent.

Overall, these new studies define and characterize a functional role for key EC-derived factors controlling pericyte recruitment, proliferation, and pericyte-induced basement membrane deposition during capillary network assembly.