TNF-α promotes cerebral pericyte remodeling in vitro, via a switch from α1 to α2 integrins.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is increasing evidence to suggest that pericytes play a crucial role in regulating the remodeling state of blood vessels. As cerebral pericytes are embedded within the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the vascular basal lamina, it is important to understand how individual ECM components influence pericyte remodeling behavior, and how cytokines regulate these events.

Methods

The influence of different vascular ECM substrates on cerebral pericyte behavior was examined in assays of cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Pericyte expression of integrin receptors was examined by flow cytometry. The influence of cytokines on pericyte functions and integrin expression was also examined, and the role of specific integrins in mediating these effects was defined by

SUBMITTER: Tigges U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3616978 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature