Fig. 3

Importance of Interaction between Mural Cells and Endothelial Cells in Vascular Health. This figure highlights the significance of the interaction between mural cells and endothelial cells in ensuring proper blood vessel function. (1) Direct physical contact between mural cells and endothelial cells plays a crucial role in maintaining vascular integrity. (2) Both cell types communicate through the secretion of paracrine factors, further supporting the functional coordination of the blood vessel. (3) The extracellular matrix (ECM) also influences the behaviour and function of both cell types. Disruption of these intimate interactions can lead to the development of vascular diseases. Moreover, impairments affecting one cell type in vascular disease can have consequential effects on the other cell type. Mural cells exert a multifaceted impact on endothelial cells (ECs), regulating vasoconstriction and vasodilation, preserving vascular integrity and function, aiding vessel development and stabilization, and contributing to extracellular matrix (ECM) production for vasculature patterning. ECs, in turn, play crucial roles in lumen formation, secretion of vasoprotective factors, interaction with immune cells, and autocrine signalling. They also control mural cell recruitment, proliferation, migration, and specialization