Roles of brain microvascular pericyte in physiological and ischemic conditions

Abstract

The neurovascular unit (NVU) consists of neurons, astrocytes, cerebral microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes. These component cells complicatedly interact with each other, and are responsible for the maintenance of various brain functions such as the regulation of microcirculation and blood-brain barrier. Particularly, pericytes play an important role not only in stabilization of microvessels by direct covering, but also in the maturation of microvessels and the maintenance of blood-brain barrier via the interaction with endothelial cells. In response to brain ischemia, pericytes migrate to peri-infarct area and produce various growth and trophic factors, thereby contributing to the tissue repair. Pericytes might play a central role in the protection and repair process of NVU, and thus, are expected as a new therapeutic target for various central nervous diseases, such as cerebral ischemia and dementia.