Knowra Pericyte Pericyte A contractile cell embedded in the basement membrane of capillaries and other small vessels. Pericytes support endothelial cells and can influence vessel stability, permeability, and local blood flow.
Endothelial cell : A cell lining the interior surface of blood and lymphatic vessels. Pericytes contact endothelial cells and help regulate their growth, barrier properties, and survival.
Arteriole : A small artery that carries blood toward capillary beds and helps regulate their perfusion. Pericytes occur near the transition from arterioles to capillaries, where vessel cell types can overlap.
Diabetic retinopathy : A diabetes-related retinal disease involving damage to retinal blood vessels and progressive vision impairment. Loss or dysfunction of retinal pericytes is an early feature associated with microvascular damage.
Mural cell : A contractile or supportive cell associated with the outer surface of blood vessels. Pericytes belong to the broader mural-cell family, whose boundaries with smooth muscle are debated.
Basement membrane : A thin, specialized extracellular matrix layer that supports cells and separates tissue compartments. Pericytes share this vessel-associated matrix with endothelial cells and are embedded within it.
Venule : A small vessel that drains blood from capillary beds into larger veins. Pericytes also associate with venules, extending their role beyond capillary beds.
Cerebral small vessel disease : A group of disorders affecting small vessels in the brain and contributing to stroke and cognitive decline. Pericyte dysfunction is investigated as one contributor to altered brain microvascular integrity.
Pericyte heterogeneity : Variation in pericyte identity, gene expression, and function across tissues and vessel segments. This diversity complicates universal definitions and comparisons between pericyte studies.
Capillary : A microscopic blood vessel connecting arterioles and venules, with walls suited for exchange between blood and tissue. Pericytes are especially associated with capillaries, where their processes contact the vessel wall.
Extracellular matrix : The network of molecules outside cells that provides structural support and biochemical signals. Pericytes interact with vessel matrix, which anchors them and helps shape their behavior.
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