| Literature DB >> 27837475 |
Wei Cai1,2, Huan Liu1, Jingyan Zhao1, Lily Y Chen1, Jun Chen1, Zhengqi Lu3, Xiaoming Hu4.
Abstract
Pericytes are functional components of the neurovascular unit (NVU). They provide support to other NVU components and maintain normal physiological functions of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The brain ischemia and reperfusion result in pathological alterations in pericytes. The intimate anatomical and functional interactions between pericytes and other NVU components play pivotal roles in the progression of stroke pathology. In this review, we depict the biology and functions of pericytes in the normal brain and discuss their effects in brain injury and repair after ischemia/reperfusion. Since ischemic stroke occurs mostly in elderly people, we also review age-related changes in pericytes and how these changes predispose aged brains to ischemic/reperfusion injury. Strategies targeting pericyte responses after ischemia and reperfusion may provide new therapies for ischemic stroke.Entities:
Keywords: Blood-brain barrier; Ischemic stroke; Neurovascular unit; Pericyte
Mesh:
Year: 2016 PMID: 27837475 PMCID: PMC5350040 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-016-0504-4
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Transl Stroke Res ISSN: 1868-4483 Impact factor: 6.829