Pericytes

Pericytes are perivascular cells that are closely associated with the endothelium of capillaries and other small vessels. Pericytes, located between endothelial cells and astrocytes in the brain, communicate with other cells by extending long cytoplasmic processes which wrap around the capillaries. Pericytes participate in a variety of processes including angiogenesis, endothelial cell survival, regulation of capillary blood flow, and establishment and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier. Pericytes have been linked to several pathological conditions including hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and tumor angiogenesis.