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Contractile proteins in pericytes at the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers

  • Published:
Journal of Neurocytology

Abstract

Evidence from a variety of sources suggests that pericytes have contractile properties and may therefore function in the regulation of capillary blood flow. However, it has been suggested that contractility is not a ubiquitous function of pericytes, and that pericytes surrounding true capillaries apparently lack the machinery for contraction. The present study used a variety of techniques to investigate the expression of contractile proteins in the pericytes of the CNS. The results of immunocytochemistry on cryosections of brain and retina, retinal whole-mounts and immunoblotting of isolated brain capillaries indicate strong expression of the smooth muscle isoform of actin (α-SM actin) in a significant number of mid-capillary pericytes. Immunogold labelling at the ultrastructural level showed that α-SM actin expression in capillaries was exclusive to pericytes, and endothelial cells were negative. Compared to α-SM actin, non-muscle myosin was present in lower concentrations. By contrast, smooth muscle myosin isoforms, were absent. Pericytes were strongly positive for the intermediate filament protein vimentin, but lacked desmin which was consistently found in vascular smooth muscle cells. These results add support for a contractile role in pericytes of the CNS microvasculature, similar to that of vascular smooth muscle cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Weston Institute of Neurological Studies, Windeyer Building, University College Medical School, Cleveland Street, London, W1P 6DB, UK

    R. Bandopadhyay, C. Orte, J.G. Lawrenson, A.R. Reid, S. De Silva & G. Allt

  2. Applied Vision Research Centre, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, City University, London, EC1V 0HB, UK

    J.G. Lawrenson

Authors
  1. R. Bandopadhyay
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  2. C. Orte
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  3. J.G. Lawrenson
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  4. A.R. Reid
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  5. S. De Silva
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  6. G. Allt
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Bandopadhyay, R., Orte, C., Lawrenson, J. et al. Contractile proteins in pericytes at the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers. J Neurocytol 30, 35–44 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011965307612

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