Understanding the Heterogeneity of Human Pericyte Subsets in Blood-Brain Barrier Homeostasis and Neurological Diseases

• Published in: Cells (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 10; no. 4; p. 890
• Main Authors: Bohannon, Diana G, Long, Danielle, Kim, Woong-Ki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 14.04.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Biology; Blood-brain barrier; Brain research; endothelial cell; Growth factors; Homeostasis; Investigations; laminin; Low density lipoprotein receptors; Membrane permeability; Microscopy; multiple sclerosis; Neurological diseases; pericyte; Pericytes; Review; Roles; Smooth muscle; perivascular macrophage; blood–brain barrier; Alzheimer’s disease; pericyte; endothelial cell; multiple sclerosis; sonic hedgehog; laminin; vascular smooth muscle cell
• ISSN: 2073-4409; 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells10040890

Pericytes are increasingly recognized as being important in the control of blood-brain barrier permeability and vascular flow. Research on this important cell type has been hindered by widespread confusion regarding the phenotypic identity and nomenclature of pericytes and other perivascular cell types. In addition, pericyte heterogeneity and mouse-human species differences have contributed to confusion. Herein we summarize our present knowledge on the identification of pericytes and pericyte subsets in humans, primarily focusing on recent findings in humans and nonhuman primates. Precise identification and definition of pericytes and pericyte subsets in humans may help us to better understand pericyte biology and develop new therapeutic approaches specifically targeting disease-associated pericyte subsets.