The CNS microvascular pericyte: pericyte-astrocyte crosstalk in the regulation of tissue survival

Abstract

The French scientist Charles Benjamin Rouget identified the pericyte nearly 140 years ago. Since that time the role of the pericyte in vascular function has been difficult to elucidate. It was not until the development of techniques to isolate and culture pericytes that scientists have begun to understand the true impact of this unique cell in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. In the brain the pericyte is an integral cellular component of the blood-brain barrier and, together with other cells of the neurovascular unit (endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons) the pericyte makes fine-tuned regulatory adjustments and adaptations to promote tissue survival. These regulatory changes involve trans-cellular communication networks between cells. In this review we consider evidence for cell-to-cell crosstalk between pericytes and astrocytes during development and in adult brain.

Pharmacological Inhibition of Mitochondrial Carbonic Anhydrases Protects Mouse Cerebral Pericytes from High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

“…Loss of PCs results in a focal increase in BBB permeability (Bonkowski et al, 2011). A close correlation between PC density and BBB permeability has been reported in PC-deficient adult mice (Armulik et al, 2010).…”

Emerging Evidence for Pathogenesis of Sporadic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

“…Последние данные свидетельствуют о том, что нейротрофический фактор головного мозга, секретируемый астроцитами, способствует созреванию клеток-предшественников олигодендроцитов в период восстановления при ише-мическом повреждении БВГМ [90]. В предыдущих рабо-тах также показали, что взаимодействие между астро-цитами и перицитами регулирует выживаемость ткани в центральной нервной системе [91], и что взаимо -действие между астроцитами и эндотелием оказыва-ет влияние на ГЭБ при физиологических и патологи-ческих состояниях [92]. Модели с участием КСГПИ также свидетельствуют об изменении взаимодейст-вия между глией и эндотелием и повышении прони-цаемости ГЭБ.…”

“…Recent evidence suggests that brain-derived neurotrophic factor secreted by astrocytes promotes oligodendrocyte precursor cell maturation during the recovery from WM ischemic injury. 90 Previous reports have also demonstrated that astrocyte-pericyte cross talk regulates tissue survival in central nervous system, 91 and that astrocyte-endothelial interactions influence the BBB under both physiological and pathological conditions. 92 SHR-SPs also provide evidence of altered glial-endothelial interactions and BBB leak.…”

Role of Pericytes in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Fat Accumulation

“…Pericytes are considered relatively undifferentiated connective tissue cells associated with the walls of small blood vessels and supporting other cells [65]. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with similar characteristics and developmental potentials have been obtained from several organs [66].…”