Vascular Procr+ stem cells: Finding new branches while looking for the roots.

Generation and growth of the blood vasculature network is a highly synchronized process, requiring coordinated efforts of endothelial cells and pericytes to maintain blood vessel integrity and regeneration. In a recent paper published in Cell Research, Yu et al. identified and characterized bipotent Procr-expressing vascular endothelial stem cells, which give rise to both endothelial cells and pericytes.