Pericytes Directly Communicate with Emerging Endothelial Cells During Vasculogenesis

Payne, L. B.; Tewari, B.; Dunkenberger, L.; Bond, S.; Savelli, A.; Darden, J.; Zhao, H.; Powell, M.; Oestreich, K.; Sontheimer, H.; Dal-Pra, S.; Chappell, J. C.

doi:10.1101/2020.07.01.180752

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.07.01.180752

Pericytes Directly Communicate with Emerging Endothelial Cells During Vasculogenesis

Payne, L. B.·Tewari, B.·Dunkenberger, L.·Bond, S.·Savelli, A.·Darden, J.·Zhao, H.·Powell, M.·Oestreich, K.·Sontheimer, H.·Dal-Pra, S.·Chappell, J. C.

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Abstract

SummaryPericytes (PCs), cells that extend along capillaries to contribute stability and other critical functions to established vasculature, are attracting attention from various fields involving vascular-related pathologies. Here, we demonstrate primary evidence of PC communication with endothelial cells (ECs) prior to tube coalescence. Observations of apparent PCs during early embryogenesis urged development of a mouse embryonic stem cell line (DR-ESCs), enabling unique dual-reporter investigations into earliest PC-EC interactions. Live imaging of differentiating DR-ESCs corroborated emergence of a PC lineage, which preceded EC differentiation, and further revealed highly dynamic PC-EC interactions during coordinated vessel formation. We show direct PC-EC communication via cell microinjection and dye-transfer, and RNA-seq analysis indicates a PC-EC coupling mechanism via gap junction Connexin43 (Cx43), exclusively up-regulated throughout DR-ESC differentiation. High resolution imaging of embryonic and postnatal mouse vasculature substantiates Cx43 plaques at PC-EC borders. These findings indicate a new role for PCs during vasculogenesis via Cx43-mediated communication with ECs.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.View Full Text

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Payne, L. B., Tewari, B., Dunkenberger, L., Bond, S., Savelli, A., Darden, J., Zhao, H., Powell, M., Oestreich, K., Sontheimer, H., Dal-Pra, S., Chappell, J. C.. 2020-07-02. Pericytes Directly Communicate with Emerging Endothelial Cells During Vasculogenesis. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.01.180752

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