Progress in research on pericytes of microvessels in related diseases / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Pericytes are a type of cell similar to vascular smooth muscle cells, named after the localization of capillaries and microvascular basement membranes. Pericytes were originally shown to be involved in vasoconstriction, regulating blood flow to local microvasculature. In recent years, its functions of regulating angiogenesis and promoting vascular maturation have been successively recognized. Many microvascular lesions are accompanied by pericyte cell structural and functional abnormality. Therefore, the regulation of pericytes has received extensive attention, but many mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. The review summarizes the role of pericytes in microvascular diseases such as cranial neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, diabetic vascular changes and tumors.