Pericyte

A pericyte is a type of cell found in the central nervous system. Pericytes are more specifically located surrounding the endothelial cell layers of the capillary network in the brain. Pericytes play an integral role in the maintenance of the blood–brain barrier as well as several other homeostatic and hemostatic functions of the brain. These cells are also a key component of the neurovascular unit, which includes endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neurons. Pericytes provide a variety of functions such as capillary blood flow regulation, clearance and phagocytosis of cellular debris, and regulating blood–brain barrier permeability. Pericytes can also work to stabilize and monitor the maturation of endothelial cells by direct communication between the cell membrane as well as paracrine signaling. It has also been revealed in recent studies that a lack of pericytes in the central nervous system can cause a breakdown of the blood–brain barrier and lead to other degenerative changes in the brain.