(histology) A mesenchymal cell found around a capillary; it may or may not be contractile.
Pericyte
| Sci-Tech Dictionary: pericyte |
(′per·ə′sīt)
| 5min Related Video: Pericyte |
| Medical Dictionary: per·i·cyte |
(pĕr'ĭ-sīt')
n.
n.
A slender, relatively undifferentiated, connective tissue cell that occurs about capillaries or other small blood vessels. Also called adventitial cell.
| Veterinary Dictionary: pericyte |
One of the peculiar elongated, contractile cells found wrapped about precapillary arterioles outside the basement membrane.
| Wikipedia: Pericyte |
A pericyte, also known as Rouget cell,[1] adventitial cell or mural cell, is a connective tissue cell[2] that occurs about small blood vessels.[3]
Contents |
Function
As a relatively undifferentiated cell, it serves to support these vessels, but it can differentiate into a fibroblast, smooth muscle cell, or macrophage as well if required. In order to migrate into the interstitium, the pericyte has to break the barrier, formed by the basement membrane, which can be accomplished by fusion with the membrane. They are important in blood-brain barrier stability as well as angiogenesis. Their expression of smooth muscle actin (SMA) and desmin, two proteins found in smooth muscle cells, and their adherence to the endovascular cells makes them very strong candidates for blood flow regulators in the microvasculature, and indeed they have been implicated in blood flow regulation at the capillary level[4]. After ischemia, an irreversible constriction of pericytes may prevent brain blood flow being restored[5].
Clinical significance
Hemangiopericytoma
Hemangiopericytoma is a malignant vascular tumor.
Diabetic retinopathy
Pericytes express the enzyme, aldose reductase, which is implicated in the development of diabetic retinopathy[6] Excess glucose is shunted down the polyol pathway and sorbitol accumulates. This osmotically active metabolite damages the pericytes in the retinal vessels resulting in the symptoms characterizing diabetic retinopathy.[7]
Research
Researchers recently took pericytes from the pancreas and then reinjected them into an injured muscle.[8] The cells immediately began regenerating muscle tissue.
References
- ^ Rouget, CMB (1879). "Sur la contractilité capillaires sanguins. Comptes rendus de l’Académie des" Sciences 88: 916–918
- ^ Díaz-Flores L, Gutiérrez R, Varela H, Rancel N, Valladares F (April 1991). "Microvascular pericytes: a review of their morphological and functional characteristics". Histol. Histopathol. 6 (2): 269–86. PMID 1802127.
- ^ pericyte at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ Peppiatt C, Howarth C, Mobbs P, Attwell D (October 2006). "Bidirectional control of CNS capillary diameter by pericytes". Nature 443 (7112): 700–4. doi:. PMID 17036005.
- ^ Yemisci M et al. (September 2009). "Pericyte contraction induced by oxidative-nitrative stress impairs capillary reflow despite successful opening of an occluded cerebral artery.". Nature Medicine 15 (9): 1031–7. doi:. PMID 19718040.
- ^ Oishi N, Kubo E, Takamura Y, Maekawa K, Tanimoto T, Akagi Y (December 2002). "Correlation between erythrocyte aldose reductase level and human diabetic retinopathy". Br J Ophthalmol 86 (12): 1363–6. doi:. PMID 12446366.
- ^ Reddy GB, Satyanarayana A, Balakrishna N, et al. (2008). "Erythrocyte aldose reductase activity and sorbitol levels in diabetic retinopathy". Mol. Vis. 14: 593–601. PMID 18385795.
- ^ "News:Adult Stem Cells Found in Blood Vessels with Broad Ability to Regenerate Other Tissues — Regenerative Medicine at the McGowan Institute". http://www.mirm.pitt.edu/news/article.asp?qEmpID=364+. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
- Rhodin JA (December 1968). "Ultrastructure of mammalian venous capillaries, venules, and small collecting veins". J. Ultrastruct. Res. 25 (5): 452–500. doi:. PMID 5714586.
- Sims DE (December 1991). "Recent advances in pericyte biology—implications for health and disease". Can J Cardiol 7 (10): 431–43. PMID 1768982.
See also
- Hemangiopericytoma
- Mural cell
- Mesoangioblast
- Diabetic retinopathy caused by death of pericytes
External links
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 | Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more |
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| Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more |
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