Pericyte function in the physiological central nervous system.
Damage to the central nervous system (CNS) leads to disruption of the vascular network, causing vascular dysfunction. Vascular dysfunction is the major event in the pathogenesis of CNS diseases and is closely associated with the severity of neuronal dysfunction. The suppression of vascular dysfunction has been considered a promising avenue to limit damage to the CNS, leading to efforts to clarify the cellular and molecular basis of vascular homeostasis maintenance. A reduction of trophic support and oxygen delivery due to circulatory insufficiency has long been regarded as a major cause of vascular damage. Moreover, recent studies provide a new perspective on the importance of the structural stability of blood vessels in CNS diseases. This updated article discusses emerging information on the key role of vascular integrity in CNS diseases, specially focusing on pericyte function.
Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency, 5, Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075, Japan; Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Japan Science and Technology Agency, 5, Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075, Japan. Electronic address: muramatsu@molneu.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
Rieko
R
Muramatsu
Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency, 5, Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075, Japan. Electronic address: yamashita@molneu.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
Toshihide
T
Yamashita
D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D020286:Pericytes / Q000502:physiology*
Blood–brain barrier; Blood–spinal cord barrier; PDGFRβ; Pericyte; Tight junction