Pericytes-related signaling pathways in retinal microvessels

Pericytes are a type of parietal cells that surrounding the microvascular endothelial cells and regulating the formation of neovascularization, vascular remodeling, wound healing and other physiological or pathological processes. In the development and progression of many ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity, pericytes play an important role with a malfunctioning of regulating retinal microvessels. Multiple molecular mechanisms, such as platelet derived growth factor(PDGF), angiopoietin (Ang), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and Notch signal channel etc., responsible for the regulation of microvascular stability and angiogenesis have been studied. Change of one or more factors in these signaling pathways modifies the biological function of pericytes. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2018, 42: 236-240) Key words: pericytes; platelet derived growth factor-B; angiopoietin; transforming growth factor-β; pigment epithelium-derived factor; connective tissue growth factor; β2-adrenergic receptors