Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall Pericytes

Pericytes are pluripotent cells that can be found in the vascular wall of both microvessels and large arteries and veins. They have distinct morphology with long branching processes and form numerous contacts with each other and with endothelial cells, organizing the vascular wall cells into a three...

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Main Authors: Ekaterina A. Ivanova, Alexander N. Orekhov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Stem Cells International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7321404
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author Ekaterina A. Ivanova
Alexander N. Orekhov
author_facet Ekaterina A. Ivanova
Alexander N. Orekhov
author_sort Ekaterina A. Ivanova
collection DOAJ
description Pericytes are pluripotent cells that can be found in the vascular wall of both microvessels and large arteries and veins. They have distinct morphology with long branching processes and form numerous contacts with each other and with endothelial cells, organizing the vascular wall cells into a three-dimensional network. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that pericytes may play a key role in the pathogenesis of vascular disorders, including atherosclerosis. Macrovascular pericytes are able to accumulate lipids and contribute to growth and vascularization of the atherosclerotic plaque. Moreover, they participate in the local inflammatory process and thrombosis, which can lead to fatal consequences. At the same time, pericytes can represent a useful model for studying the atherosclerotic process and for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In particular, they are suitable for testing various substances’ potential for decreasing lipid accumulation induced by the incubation of cells with atherogenic low-density lipoprotein. In this review we will discuss the application of cellular models for studying atherosclerosis and provide several examples of successful application of these models to drug research.
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spelling doaj-art-1de44ad5db35459ebcf13c9ca1f3779c2025-08-20T02:01:39ZengWileyStem Cells International1687-966X1687-96782016-01-01201610.1155/2016/73214047321404Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall PericytesEkaterina A. Ivanova0Alexander N. Orekhov1Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumLaboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, Moscow 125315, RussiaPericytes are pluripotent cells that can be found in the vascular wall of both microvessels and large arteries and veins. They have distinct morphology with long branching processes and form numerous contacts with each other and with endothelial cells, organizing the vascular wall cells into a three-dimensional network. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that pericytes may play a key role in the pathogenesis of vascular disorders, including atherosclerosis. Macrovascular pericytes are able to accumulate lipids and contribute to growth and vascularization of the atherosclerotic plaque. Moreover, they participate in the local inflammatory process and thrombosis, which can lead to fatal consequences. At the same time, pericytes can represent a useful model for studying the atherosclerotic process and for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In particular, they are suitable for testing various substances’ potential for decreasing lipid accumulation induced by the incubation of cells with atherogenic low-density lipoprotein. In this review we will discuss the application of cellular models for studying atherosclerosis and provide several examples of successful application of these models to drug research.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7321404
spellingShingle Ekaterina A. Ivanova
Alexander N. Orekhov
Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall Pericytes
Stem Cells International
title Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall Pericytes
title_full Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall Pericytes
title_fullStr Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall Pericytes
title_full_unstemmed Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall Pericytes
title_short Cellular Model of Atherogenesis Based on Pluripotent Vascular Wall Pericytes
title_sort cellular model of atherogenesis based on pluripotent vascular wall pericytes
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/7321404
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