Vascular pericyte density and angiogenesis associated with XXXX .

@entity5 @entity263 @entity420 @entity1970
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Angiogenesis facilitates metabolism, proliferation and metastasis of @entity420 cells in the prostate, as without the development of new vasculature @entity5 growth cannot be sustained. However, angiogenesis is variable with the well-known phenomenon of vascular 'hotspots' seen associated with viable @entity5 cell mass. With the recent recognition of pericytes as molecular regulators of angiogenesis, we have examined the interaction of these cells in actively growing new vessels. METHODS: Pericyte interactions with developing new vessels were examined using transmission electron microscopy. Pericyte distribution was mapped from @entity1970 + immunostained histological sections and quantified using image analysis. Data was obtained from peripheral and more central regions of 27 cases with Gleason scores of 4-9. RESULTS: Pericyte numbers were increased around developing new vessel sprouts at sites of luminal maturation. Numbers were reduced around the actively growing tips of migrating endothelial cells and functional new vessels. @entity5 regions internal to a 500- m peripheral band showed higher microvessel pericyte density than the peripheral region. CONCLUSION: Pericytes were found to be key cellular components of developing new vessels in @entity263 . Their numbers increased at sites of luminal maturation with these cells displaying an activated phenotype different to quiescent pericytes. Increased pericyte density was found internal to the peripheral region, suggesting more mature vessels lie more centrally.
