title: The complexity of cell composition of the intima of large arteries: focus on pericyte-like cells.
abstract: Pericytes, which are also known as Rouget cells or perivascular cells, are considered to represent a likely distinct pool of vascular cells that are extremely branched and located mostly in the periphery of the vascular system. The family of pericytes is a heterogeneous cell population that includes pericytes and pericyte-like cells. Accumulated data indicate that networks of pericyte-like cells exist in normal non-atherosclerotic intima, and that pericyte-like cells can be involved in the development of atherosclerotic lesions from the very early stages of disease. The pathogenic role of arterial pericytes and pericyte-like cells also might be important in advanced and complicated atherosclerotic lesions via realizing mechanisms of vascular remodelling, ectopic ossification, intraplaque neovascularization, and probably thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Orekhov
authors.affiliation: Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, Moscow, Russia Faculty of Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia y.bobryshev@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Yuri V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Bobryshev
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology, Pirogov Russian State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Dimitry A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chistiakov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D020286:Pericytes / Q000166:cytology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Arteries; Atherogenesis; Atherosclerosis; Blood vessels; Intima; Pericyte-like cells; Pericytes