title: Pericytes: multitasking cells in the regeneration of injured, diseased, and aged skeletal muscle.
abstract: Pericytes are perivascular cells that envelop and make intimate connections with adjacent capillary endothelial cells. Recent studies show that they may have a profound impact in skeletal muscle regeneration, innervation, vessel formation, fibrosis, fat accumulation, and ectopic bone formation throughout life. In this review, we summarize and evaluate recent advances in our understanding of pericytes' influence on adult skeletal muscle pathophysiology. We also discuss how further elucidating their biology may offer new approaches to the treatment of conditions characterized by muscle wasting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC, USA ; Neuroscience Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Birbrair
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Tan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Zhong-Min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Messi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Akiva
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gerontology, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC, USA ; Neuroscience Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Delbono
keywords: aging; angiogenesis; fat formation; fibrous tissue; innervation; pericytes; regeneration; skeletal muscle