pericytens

Pericytens is not a widely used term in the scientific literature and appears to be a misspelling or variant of pericytes. Pericytes are specialized mural cells that wrap around the endothelial cells of capillaries and small venules throughout the body. They reside embedded within the basement membrane and extend cytoplasmic processes that encircle and communicate with adjacent endothelial cells, contributing to microvascular stability and function.

Pericytes influence several key aspects of microvascular biology. They regulate capillary diameter and blood flow through contractile activity, contribute to vessel stability during development and remodeling, and modulate endothelial cell proliferation and permeability. In the central nervous system, pericytes are critical for the maturation and maintenance of the blood–brain barrier, helping to control solute passage and barrier integrity. They also participate in angiogenesis and vascular remodeling in various tissues.

Molecularly, pericytes express markers such as PDGFR-β, NG2 (CSPG4), desmin, and sometimes alpha-smooth muscle actin, though marker expression can vary by tissue and state. Their origin is typically mesenchymal, with recruitment to nascent vessels guided in part by endothelial signals like PDGF-B.

Clinical relevance is notable: pericyte loss or dysfunction is implicated in diabetic retinopathy, neurodegenerative disease with blood–brain barrier disruption, tumor angiogenesis, and stroke. Identification and study of pericytes remain challenging due to marker overlap with other mural cell types.

If you intended to refer to pericytes rather than a distinct term, this article provides a concise overview of their biology and significance.