Phenotypic and transcriptional changes in human brain pericytes induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate

Pericytes are multifunctional mural cells that contribute to vascular stability, inflammation, and fibrosis in the central nervous system. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a potent activator of protein kinase C (PKC), is widely used to induce cellular activation and inflammatory responses in various cell types. In this study, we investigated how PMA affects human brain pericyte phenotypes and gene expression. PMA stimulation increased Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in cultured human brain pericytes, but did not alter migration capacity. Phalloidin staining revealed an altered aspect ratio without changes in cell area. Traction force microscopy showed no significant differences in traction stress after PMA treatment. RNA sequencing analysis revealed robust transcriptional changes, particularly in pathways associated with proliferation, mechanical stimulus response, and inflammation. These findings suggest that PKC contributes to diverse pericyte functions, including proliferation, mechanical responses, and inflammation, through transcriptomic changes.