MULTIFACETED ROLES OF PERICYTES IN LUNG INJURY AND REPAIR.

Pericytes are specialized, mural cells essential to vascular integrity and homeostasis, with emerging roles in lung injury, fibrosis, and viral pathology. Situated around capillaries, pericytes can transition into myofibroblast-like cells and contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition following lung injury. This review delves into pericyte biology in the lung, highlighting their contributions to fibrotic processes, immune response mediation, and potential as viral reservoirs. Experimental insights from murine models and human lung pericytes underscore their dual function in structural repair and immune signaling. Here, we explore the impact of pericyte plasticity on fibrosis and immune dynamics, evaluate their interactions with viruses, and discuss their potential as therapeutic targets in lung disease. A comprehensive understanding of pericyte plasticity and heterogeneity could pave the way for novel treatments targeting fibrosis and virus-induced lung pathology.