biostudies-literatureWang XShaanxi Province Key Research and Development PlanNational Natural Science Foundation of China20417314251315523https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11775981biostudies-literatureUnknown16Mural cells are essential for maintaining the proper functions of microvasculatures. However, a key challenge of microvascular tissue engineering is identifying a cellular source for mural cells. We showed that <i>in vitro</i>, circulating fibrocytes (CFs) can (1) shear and stabilize the microvasculatures formed by vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in a collagen gel, (2) form gap junctions with VECs and (3) induce basement membrane formation. CFs transplanted into nude mice along with VECs in either collagen gel or Matrigel exhibited activities similar to those mentioned above, that is, sheathing microvasculatures formed by VECs, inducing basement membrane formation and facilitating the connection of the engineered microvasculatures with the host circulation. Interestingly, the behaviour oJournal of tissue engineeringConstruction of functional tissue-engineered microvasculatures using circulating fibrocytes as mural cells.PMC117759812024SF- GJHX-453157098681272134Gunawardena HPDang LLi XLi JTan HGerber DACao JWang XWang HCui CDeng HfalseConstruction of functional tissue-engineered microvasculatures using circulating fibrocytes as mural cells.Mural cells are essential for maintaining the proper functions of microvasculatures. However, a key challenge of microvascular tissue engineering is identifying a cellular source for mural cells. We showed that <i>in vitro</i>, circulating fibrocytes (CFs) can (1) shear and stabilize the microvasculatures formed by vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in a collagen gel, (2) form gap junctions with VECs and (3) induce basement membrane formation. CFs transplanted into nude mice along with VECs in either collagen gel or Matrigel exhibited activities similar to those mentioned above, that is, sheathing microvasculatures formed by VECs, inducing basement membrane formation and facilitating the connection of the engineered microvasculatures with the host circulation. Interestingly, the behaviour o2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jan-Dec2026-07-05T03:12:41.397Z2025-04-06T22:12:40.132ZS-EPMC117759813988254610.1177/20417314251315523