Pericytes as Cell Therapy for Locomotor Recovery

Purpose of Review The purpose of this review is to explore the rationale and evidence for using pericytes in cell therapy applications to improve locomotor recovery post-injury. Recent Findings Pericyte adaptability in form and function aids in maintaining central nervous system homeostasis after injury but can also contribute to pathology. Current cell therapy techniques involve manipulation of endogenous pericytes to enhance their pro-recovery activities and manipulation of exogenous pericytes in vitro for injection post-injury. The mechanisms of pericyte-induced recovery of locomotor function are unclear but seem to involve stabilization of vascular functions and regulation of vascular and axonal growth. Injected exogenous pericytes, manipulated in vitro before injection, could provide neurotropic signals that promote recovery and/or differentiate and take the place of missing neuronal components. Summary Pericytes have emerged as novel candidates for cell therapy-mediated tissue recovery. Pericytes are harvestable cells that have the potential to be a readily translatable therapy for locomotor recovery. The field is in a state of infancy. Although promising, at this point only pre-clinical evidence exists. Choosing a consistent and reliable source of pericytes, characterizing them extensively, and then applying these principles in a large animal model of central nervous system injury could help to move the field towards clinical trials.