Pericyte recruitment in human corneal angiogenesis: an ultrastructural study with clinicopathological correlation

摘要

Background/aim: During angiogenesis—that is, the outgrowth of new from pre-existing blood vessels, new capillaries undergo a period of “fine tuning” when vascular endothelial cells become apoptotic if sufficient supply of angiogenic factors is lacking. Morphologically, this period correlates with the absence of pericyte coverage of new vessels. Mature, pericyte covered vessels, in contrast, do not depend on elevated levels of angiogenic factors for survival. This study analyses whether, and if so when, pathological vessels in human corneal neovascularisation (CN) acquire pericyte coverage. This can be of importance for future angioregressive therapeutic strategies.