Researchers uncover blood flow regulation of brain pericyte development

In a study published online in Cell Reports, DU Jiulin's group at the Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the collaborators, created a zebrafish model for in vivo labeling of brain pericytes and systematically explored the developmental dynamics of brain pericytes during the early embryonic stage. The researchers revealed the promoting effect of blood flow on the proliferation of pericytes after ingress into the brain and showed that this process relies on the activation of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and its downstream Notch signaling.

Brain function relies on a complex and effective vascular network that provides necessary nutrients and removes waste products. To maintain the homeostasis of neural tissues and normal neural activity, the brain vasculature forms the blood–brain barrier (BBB) during development, strictly controlling substance exchange between blood and brain parenchyma. Abnormalities in the BBB are closely associated with various brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Pericytes, as mural cells tightly attached to the outer side of EC tubes in capillaries, play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the BBB. Therefore, understanding the development of brain pericytes is essential for studying the formation and maintenance of the BBB. Previous research had indicated that blood flow, the most important functional behavior of blood vessels, participates in regulating the development of brain ECs. However, whether blood flow affects the growth of brain pericytes remained an unexplored question.

Reference: Researchers uncover blood flow regulation of brain pericyte development; Cell Reports DOI:10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113652