Role of pericytes in angiogenesis: focus on cancer angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic therapy

Pericytes, a kind of mural cells for microcirculation, are critical for vascular development and function. Although current studies indicate that PDGF/PDGFR-β, Ang/Tie2, TGF-β involve in the regulation of pericytes recruitment, the mechanisms governing pericytes migration and regulating angiogenesis, especially in cancers, have not been fully clear. Many evidences have showed that cancer vessels are characterized by abnormal pericyte coverage and altered pericytes-endothelial cells interactions, which contribute to the metastasis and progress of cancers. Therefore pericyte-targeting tend to be a promising anticancer therapy. Here we discuss the roles of pericytes in vasculatures and the effects of pericyte-targeting in anticancer treatment.