Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

Cancer Cell Migration through Invadopodia

Invadosome is a broad category of cell surface structures with proteolytic activity that degrades the extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadosomes are present in normal cell types, including macrophages, endothelial cells, and neurons, as well as tumor cells. Although the macrophage podosomes and tumor cell invadopodia are classified as invadosomes, they have different structures, molecular pathways, and functions. Podosomes are short structures that last for a few minutes. However,...

The Tumor Microenvironment

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Fibroblastic aspartoacylase suppresses TGFβ-mediated responses and cancer progression.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

SMARCB1 Deficiency in Tumors Confers a Vulnerability to H3K27 Demethylase Inhibitors via Autophagy Disruption.

Cancer research·2026

Same author

USP29-regulated noncanonical stabilization of the hypoxia-inducible factor-α in aggressive prostate cancer.

Molecular oncology·2026

Same author

Deletion of Mfn2 in endothelial cells triggers a mitohormetic response that improves systemic metabolism and healthspan in mice.

Cell metabolism·2026

Same author

Endothelial USP8 is essential for angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis·2026

Same author

Publisher Correction: Polyamine-dependent metabolic shielding regulates alternative splicing.

Nature·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Published on: August 1, 2025

Aggressive prostate cancer is associated with pericyte dysfunction.

Anabel Martinez-Romero^1,2, Ane Martinez-Larrinaga^1,2,3,4, Joaquim Grego-Bessa^1,5

¹Endothelial Pathobiology and Microenvironment Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Molecular Oncology

|October 21, 2025

Summary

Prostate pericytes, crucial for blood vessel stability, become dysfunctional in cancer, not lost. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) drives this dysfunction, impacting tumor vascularization and permeability.

Keywords:

TGFβ signaling pericytes prostate cancer vessels

More Related Videos

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse

Published on: January 14, 2020

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Published on: March 6, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

Published on: August 1, 2025

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse

Published on: January 14, 2020

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Published on: March 6, 2018

Area of Science:

Vascular Biology
Cancer Pathogenesis
Cellular Reprogramming

Background:

Pericytes are vital mural cells regulating blood vessel stability and permeability.
Aberrant tumor vascularization is a hallmark of cancer, but pericyte roles are unclear.
Prostate cancer progression involves complex changes in tumor microenvironment.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the molecular reprogramming of prostate pericytes during cancer.
To determine the contribution of pericytes to prostate cancer pathogenesis and progression.
To identify molecular signatures distinguishing pericyte abundance from function.

Main Methods:

Combined computational and experimental approaches.
Analysis of human prostate cancer and murine models.
Single-cell RNA sequencing.

Main Results:

Prostate tumors show prognostic potential linked to endothelial-pericyte imbalance.
Pericyte dysfunction, not loss, characterizes prostate tumors, with altered marker expression.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) drives pericyte dysfunction via molecular changes.
Dysfunctional pericytes correlate with reduced contractility markers, enlarged vascular lumens, and increased permeability.

Conclusions:

Pericyte dysfunction, rather than reduced numbers, is key in tumor progression.
TGF-β signaling is a critical regulator of pericyte dysfunction in prostate cancer.
Understanding pericyte function is crucial for targeting tumor vascularization.