Pericytes are heterogeneous in their origin within the same tissue

Abstract

Pericytes heterogeneity is based on their morphology, distribution, and markers. It is well known that pericytes from different organs may have distinct embryonic sources. Yamazaki et al. (2017) using several transgenic mouse model reveal by cell-lineage tracing that pericytes are even more heterogeneous than previously appreciated. This study shows that pericytes from within the same tissue may be heterogeneous in their origin. Remarkably, a subpopulation of embryonic dermal pericytes derives from the hematopoietic lineage, an unexpected source. Reconstructing the lineage of pericytes is central to understanding development, and also for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in which pericytes play important roles.

Sox10 + Cells Contribute to Vascular Development in Multiple Organs—Brief Report

“…1, 2, 32 For example, brain pericytes have distinct morphologies, markers and functions along the arteriole-capillary-venule vasculature bed. 33 The expression of ACTA2 is weak in the brain pericytes in the middle of capillary bed; however, those in the arteriole-capillary interface express strong ACTA2 and play an important role in blood flow control.…”

Pericytes constrict blood vessels after myocardial ischemia

“…Pericytes are heterogeneous regarding their distribution, phenotype, marker expression, origin, and function [16,31–47], several subtypes have been characterized in various organs [11,17–20], including the heart [21]. Cardiac pericytes subpopulations, type-1 (NG2 +/Nestin-GFP−) and type-2 (NG2 +/Nestin-GFP +) pericytes, were identified in the perivascular space of cardiac blood vessels using bitransgenic Nestin-GFP/NG2-DsRed mice [21].…”

Identity of Gli1+ cells in the bone marrow

“…Based on those initial criteria [15], and on the presence of cells that follow these criteria in multiple adult tissues, it was suggested that MSCs have a common origin. Due to the broad organ distribution of blood vessels, the attention had turned to pericytes as candidates to be the MSCs [16–18]. Initially, isolation of pericytes followed by long-term culture provided evidence that they acted as stem cells in various tissues [19–26].…”