Pericytes are contractile smooth muscle-like cells that cover the abluminal surface of microvessels.
The pericyte population is highly variable between different tissues and organs and appears to show functional heterogeneity [1].
Brain vascular pericytes play a crucial role in the formation and functionality of the blood-brain barrier, regulation of angiogenesis, survival of endothelial cells, and clearance and phagocytosis of cellular debris [2].
Due to the close relationship with endothelial cell structure and blood flow, an excess or deficiency in vascular pericyte activity has been implicated in various pathological conditions including hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and central nervous system tumor formation [3].
Human Brain Vascular Pericytes (HBVP) from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human brain. HBVP are cryopreserved at passage one (P1) after purification and delivered frozen.
Each vial contains 500 000 cells in 1 ml volume.
HBVP are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodyspecific to alpha-smooth muscle actin and PDGFRb.
HBVP are guaranteed to further expandfor 15 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories.
Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use Pericyte Medium (PM, Cat. no. SC1201) for culturing HBVP in vitro.
Product Use
HBVP are for research use only. They are not approved for human or animal use, or for application in in vitro diagnostic procedures.
Storage
Upon receiving, directly and immediately transfer the cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until they are needed for experiments.
Shipping
Dry ice
References
[1] Sims DE. (2000) "Diversity within pericytes."ClinExpPharmacolPhysiol. 27:842-6.
[2] Rucker HK, Wynder HJ,Thomas WE. (2000) "Cellular mechanisms of CNS pericytes."Brain Res Bull.15:363-9.
[3] Allt G,Lawrenson JG. (2001) "Pericytes: cell biology and pathology."Cells TissuesOrgans.169:1-11.