Human Pulmonary Microvascular Pericytes

Pulmonary microvascular pericytes are distributed in the microvasculature of lung tissue and play key roles in regulating vascular formation, stability, and function. The typical characteristics of pericytes are a prominent nucleus with less cytoplasm around the nucleus, and many protrusions parallel to the long axis of the microvessels. Simultaneously, one pericyte can contact multiple capillaries in the microcirculation through the extended protrusions. In addition, the interaction between pericytes and endothelial cells plays an extremely important role in angiogenesis.