Pericytes Contribute to Dysfunction in a Human 3D Model of Placental Microvasculature through VEGF-Ang-Tie2 Signaling.

ABSTRACT: Placental vasculopathies are associated with a number of pregnancy-related diseases, including pre-eclampsia (PE)-a leading cause of maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Placental presentations of PE are associated with endothelial dysfunction, reduced vessel perfusion, white blood cell infiltration, and altered production of angiogenic factors within the placenta (a candidate mechanism). Despite maintaining vascular quiescence in other tissues, how pericytes contribute to vascular growth and signaling in the placenta remains unknown. Here, pericytes are hypothesized to play a detrimental role in the pathogenesis of placental vascular growth. A perfusable triculture model is developed, consisting of human endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and pericytes, capable of recapitulating

SUBMITTER: Haase K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6891921 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature