Potential interactions between pericytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells in perivascular regions of cerebral white matter. (15th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maki, Takakuni; Maeda, Mitsuyo; Uemura, Maiko; Lo, Evan K.; Terasaki, Yasukazu; Liang, Anna C.; Shindo, Akihiro; Choi, Yoon Kyung; Taguchi, Akihiko; Matsuyama, Tomohiro; Takahashi, Ryosuke; Ihara, Masafumi; Arai, Ken
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 597(2015)
• Page Start: 164
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2015-06-15
• Subjects: Pericyte -- Oligodendrocyte precursor cell -- Perivascular niche -- White matter; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.04.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Pericytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are localized in close contact with each other in cerebral white matter. Pericytes attached to OPCs via basal lamina in the perivascular region. OPC-derived factors support pericyte survival in vitro. Pericyte-derived factors support OPC survival in vitro. Abstract: Pericytes are embedded within basal lamina and play multiple roles in the perivascular niche in brain. Recently, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) have also been reported to associate with cerebral endothelium. Is it possible that within this gliovascular locus, there may also exist potential spatial and functional interactions between pericytes and OPCs? Here, we demonstrated that in the perivascular region of cerebral white matter, pericytes and OPCs may attach and support each other. Immunostaining showed that pericytes and OPCs are localized in close contact with each other in mouse white matter at postnatal days 0, 60 and 240. Electron microscopic analysis confirmed that pericytes attached to OPCs via basal lamina in the perivascular region. The close proximity between these two cell types was also observed in postmortem human brains. Functional interaction between pericytes and OPCs was assessed by in vitro media transfer experiments. When OPC cultures were treated with pericyte-conditioned media, OPC number increased. Similarly, pericyte number increased when pericytes were maintained in OPC-conditioned media. Taken together, our data suggest a potential anatomical and functional interaction between pericytes and OPCs in cerebral white matter.