Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 2, 2025
Isolation and Purification of Murine Cardiac Pericytes
Published on: August 16, 2019
Cardiac pericytes function as key vasoactive cells to regulate homeostasis and disease
Linda L Lee1, Aarif Y Khakoo2, Vishnu Chintalgattu1
1Department of Cardiometabolic Disorders, Amgen Research and Discovery, Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.
Insights
Cardiac pericytes (PCs) are crucial for heart blood vessel health. This study reveals their vasoactive properties and responses to disease conditions like hypoxia and high glucose.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Pericytes (PCs) are mural cells supporting endothelial cells (ECs) in microvessels, vital for vasculature development and barrier integrity.
- The specific roles and mechanisms of cardiac PCs in regulating coronary capillary function remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize cardiac pericytes (PCs) at the cellular level and elucidate their function in the heart.
- To investigate the behavior of cardiac PCs under in vitro disease conditions, including hypoxia, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of cardiac PCs using specific cell surface markers (NG2+, PDGFRβ+, CD146+, CD34-, CD31-, CD45-).
- Functional assays measuring transepithelial electrical resistance and endothelial permeability.
- Assessment of PC contractile protein expression, adrenergic signaling response, and contraction/relaxation.
- In vitro modeling of disease states: hypoxia, supraphysiological low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and elevated glucose.
Main Results:
- Isolated cardiac PCs enhanced endothelial barrier function by increasing transepithelial electrical resistance and decreasing permeability.
- Cardiac PCs express contractile proteins, respond to adrenergic signaling, and exhibit contraction and relaxation.
- Hypoxia induced the HIF-1α pathway, increased angiogenic factor secretion, and promoted PC apoptosis.
- High LDL levels inhibited PC proliferation and induced lipid accumulation, while high glucose triggered a proinflammatory response.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac PCs are vasoactive cells capable of regulating coronary capillary tone and blood flow.
- Cardiac PCs exhibit distinct responses to various in vitro disease stimuli, highlighting their role in cardiovascular pathology.
- This study provides a foundational characterization of cardiac PCs and their functional significance in cardiac health and disease.
Abstract:
Pericytes (PCs)-mural cells that envelop endothelial cells (ECs) of microvessels-regulate tissue-specific vasculature development as well as maturation and maintenance of endothelial barrier integrity. However, little is known about their tissue-specific function in the heart. Specifically, the mechanism by which cardiac PCs constrict coronary capillaries remains undetermined. To gain insights into the function of cardiac PCs at the cellular level, we isolated NG2+ PDGFRβ+ CD146+ CD34- CD31- CD45- PCs for detailed characterization. Functionally, we provide evidence that these PCs increased transepithelial electrical resistance and decreased endothelial permeability. We show for the first time that this population of PCs express contractile proteins, are stimulated by adrenergic signaling, and demonstrate stereotypical contraction and relaxation. Furthermore, we also studied for the first time, the PCs in in vitro models of disease. PCs in hypoxia activated the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha pathway, increased secretion of angiogenic factors, and caused cellular apoptosis. Supraphysiological levels of low-density lipoprotein decreased PC proliferation and induced lipid droplet accumulation. Elevated glucose levels triggered a proinflammatory response. Taken together, our study characterizes cardiac PCs under in vitro disease conditions and supports the hypothesis that cardiac PCs are key vasoactive cells that can regulate blood flow in the heart.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Autoregulation of Blood Flow
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation....
01:27Regulation of the Cardiovascular System
The regulation of the cardiovascular system involves the autonomic nervous system (ANS), baroreceptors, and chemoreceptors, ensuring that heart rate and blood pressure are appropriately modulated in response to varying physiological demands.
The ANS comprises two main divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system enhances...
01:29Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance
01:24Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
01:16Arteries and Arterioles
01:20Overview of the Vascular System