title: Pericytes, an overlooked player in vascular pathobiology.
abstract: Pericytes are a heterogeneous population of cells located in the blood vessel wall. They were first identified in the 19th century by Rouget, however their biological role and potential for drug targeting have taken time to be recognised. Isolation of pericytes from several different tissues has allowed a better phenotypic and functional characterization. These findings revealed a tissue-specific, multi-functional group of cells with multilineage potential. Given this emerging evidence, pericytes have acquired specific roles in pathobiological events in vascular diseases. In this review article, we will provide a compelling overview of the main diseases in which pericytes are involved, from well-established mechanisms to the latest findings. Pericyte involvement in diabetes and cancer will be discussed extensively. In the last part of the article we will review therapeutic approaches for these diseases in light of the recently acquired knowledge. To unravel pericyte-related vascular pathobiological events is pivotal not only for more tailored treatments of disease but also to establish pericytes as a therapeutic tool.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ferland-McCollough
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sadie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reni
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, United Kingdom. Electronic address: mangialardig@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mangialardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D020286:Pericytes / Q000166:cytology*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Cancer stem cells; Diabetic nephropathy; Diabetic retinopathy; Pericyte fibrosis; Pericytes; Perivascular stem cells