학술논문

A new insight into the role of pericytes in ischemic stroke
Document Type
Review Paper
Source
Acta Neurologica Belgica. 124(3):767-774
Subject
Pericytes
Stroke
White matter
Neurovascular remodeling
Blood–brain barrier
Language
English
ISSN
0300-9009
2240-2993
Abstract
The functional structure of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) deteriorates after stroke by developing diffuse microvascular and neurovascular dysfunction and loss of white matter integrity. This causes nervous tissue injury and causes sensory and motor disabilities in stroke patients. Improving the integrity of the BBB and neurovascular remodeling after stroke can promote post-stroke injury conditions. Pericytes are contractile cells abundant in the BBB and sandwiched between astrocytes and endothelial cells of the microvessels. Stroke could lead to the degeneration of pericytes in the BBB. However, recent evidence shows that promoting pericytes enhances BBB integrity and neurovascular remodeling. Furthermore, pericytes achieve multipotent properties under hypoxic conditions, allowing them to transdifferentiate into the brain resident cells such as microglia. Microglia regulate immunity and inflammatory response after stroke. The current review studies recent findings in the intervening mechanisms underlying the regulatory effect of pericytes in BBB recovery after stroke.