Orekhov AN, Bobryshev YV, Chistiakov DA.

Cardiovasc Res. 2014 Jul 11. pii: cvu168. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract

Pericytes which are also known as Rouget cells or perivascular cells are considered to represent a likely distinct pool of vascular cells that are extremely branched and located mostly in the periphery of the vascular system. The family of pericytes is a heterogeneous cell population that includes pericytes and pericyte-like cells. Accumulated data indicates that networks of pericyte-like cells exist in normal non-atherosclerotic intima and that pericyte-like cells can be involved in the development of atherosclerotic lesions from the very early stages of disease. The pathogenic role of arterial pericytes and pericyte-like cells also might be important in advanced and complicated atherosclerotic lesions via realizing mechanisms of vascular remodeling, ectopic ossification, intraplaque neovascularization, and probably thrombosis.

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KEYWORDS: arteries; atherogenesis; atherosclerosis; blood vessels; intima; pericyte-like cells; pericytes