the cns microvascular pericyte pericyte-astrocyte crosstalk in the regulation of tissue survival中枢神经系统微血管周皮细胞pericyte-astrocyte相声的监管组织的生存.pdf

Bonkowski et al. Fluids and Barriers of the CNS 2011, 8:8 FLUIDS AND BARRIERS /content/8/1/8 OF THE CNS REVIEW Open Access The CNS microvascular pericyte: pericyte-astrocyte crosstalk in the regulation of tissue survival 1,2 1,3 4 5 1* Drew Bonkowski , Vladimir Katyshev , Roumen D Balabanov , Andre Borisov , Paula Dore-Duffy Abstract The French scientist Charles Benjamin Rouget identified the pericyte nearly 140 years ago. Since that time the role of the pericyte in vascular function has been difficult to elucidate. It was not until the development of techniques to isolate and culture pericytes that scientists have begun to understand the true impact of this unique cell in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. In the brain the pericyte is an integral cellular component of the blood-brain barrier and, together with other cells of the neurovascular unit (endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons) the pericyte makes fine-tuned regulatory adjustments and adaptations to promote tissue survival. These regulatory changes involve trans-cellular communication networks between cells. In this review we consider evidence for cell- to-cell crosstalk between pericytes and astrocytes during development and in adult brain. Review ECs and other cells of the neurovascular unit such as Introduction neurons by direct physical contact and through auto-