Peri(vascular)cytes identity in the brain

Abstract

Pericytes are multifunctional cells, and critical elements of the neurovascular unit (NVU) for regulating cerebral blood flow and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, as well as angiogenesis, wound repair and neuroinflammation. Pericytes from distinct peripheral tissues may have various properties, and may differ from those in the brain. Pericyte deficiency has been acknowledged in various central nervous system (CNS) diseases including multiple sclerosis, diabetic retinopathy, neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage, and neurodegenerative