Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Background Pericytes, a type of mural cells, exert important functions in the CNS. One major challenge in pericyte research is the lack of pericyte‐specific and subpopulation‐specific markers. Methods To address this knowledge gap, we first generated a novel transgenic mouse line in which vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) are permanently labeled with tdTomato. Next, we isolated PDGFRβ + tdTomato − pericytes and PDGFRβ + tdTomato + vSMCs from the brains of these mice and subsequently performed RNAseq analysis to identify pericyte‐enriched genes. Results Using this approach, we successfully identified 40 pericyte‐enriched genes and 158 vSMC‐enriched genes, which are involved in different biological processes and molecular functions. Using ISH/IHC analysis, we found that Pla1a and Cox4i2 were predominantly enriched in subpopulations of brain pericytes, although they also marked some non‐vascular parenchymal cells. Conclusions These findings suggest that Pla1a and Cox4i2 preferably label subpopulations of pericytes in the brain compared to vSMCs, and thus, they may be useful in distinguishing these populations.
Source: CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
DOI: 10.1111/cns.70247
Authors: Minkyung Kang, Ava Nasrollahi, Feng Cheng, Yao Yao
Institution: University of South Florida
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,140
Awards: G1917150420, G2451589057, Cell-specific changes of laminin expression in the CNS in Alzheimer’s disease, Fibroblast-derived laminin regulates blood-brain barrier repair and fibroblast biology after Stroke, G4857108600, G9000272367, G9000306745, Fibroblast-derived laminin regulates blood-brain barrier integrity and fibroblast biology in hemorrhagic brain, G913334536
OpenAlex ID: W4407189980