1124-Pericytes Regulates Tissue Morphogenesis

Paper Talk · Jun 13, 2026 · 25m

This research explores how pericytes, cells that support blood vessels, act as organ-specific signaling centers to guide tissue development. By using mouse genetics and single-cell RNA sequencing, the study demonstrates that pericytes release distinct paracrine factors depending on their location in the body. In the postnatal lung, pericyte-derived HGF and BDNF are essential for healthy growth, as their absence impairs alveolar formation and blood vessel expansion. Conversely, these factors are dispensable in the brain, where pericytes instead utilize the growth factor Nodal to regulate…