Shimizu Fumitaka, Kanda Takashi
Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine.
Brain Nerve. 2020 Feb;72(2):151-158. doi: 10.11477/mf.1416201495.
Pericytes stabilize microvessels by wrapping them with their processes. They are located within the neurovascular unit between endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons, and interact with neighboring cells to generate diverse functional responses that are critical for central nerve system (CNS) function in health and disease. Recent evidence suggests that brain pericytes play crucial roles in regulating microvascular functions, such as blood-brain barrier properties, capillary blood flow, angiogenesis, and the entry of leukocytes into the brain. Pericytes also take part in tissue repair after CNS injury and may have stem cell-like properties. In addition, recent reports suggest that peripheral nerve pericytes, forming the blood-nerve barrier (BNB), regulate BNB function and basement membrane maintenance. Microvascular dysfunction due to pericyte degeneration initiates secondary neurodegenerative changes in the nervous system. In this review, we will first describe the origin, heterogeneity, and the physiological characteristics of pericytes. We next review possible pathological mechanisms and consequences of pericyte impairment in nervous system diseases including Alzheimer's diseases, diabetes, vascular dementia, and stroke. Finally, we will discuss how pericytes can be targeted for developing novel therapeutic approaches for treating patients with neurological disorders.
周细胞通过其突起包裹微血管来使其稳定。它们位于内皮细胞、星形胶质细胞和神经元之间的神经血管单元内，并与邻近细胞相互作用以产生多种功能反应，这些反应对于中枢神经系统（CNS）在健康和疾病状态下的功能至关重要。最近的证据表明，脑周细胞在调节微血管功能方面发挥着关键作用，如血脑屏障特性、毛细血管血流、血管生成以及白细胞进入脑内。周细胞还参与中枢神经系统损伤后的组织修复，并且可能具有干细胞样特性。此外，最近的报道表明，形成血神经屏障（BNB）的外周神经周细胞调节BNB功能和基底膜维持。由于周细胞退化导致的微血管功能障碍引发神经系统继发性神经退行性改变。在本综述中，我们将首先描述周细胞的起源、异质性和生理特征。接下来，我们将综述周细胞损伤在包括阿尔茨海默病、糖尿病、血管性痴呆和中风在内的神经系统疾病中的可能病理机制和后果。最后，我们将讨论如何针对周细胞开发治疗神经疾病患者的新型治疗方法。
