WEBINAR—The Critical Role of Pericytes in Pulmonary Circulation

September 16
11 a.m. EDT

In this webinar, Ke Yuan, PhD, explores advances in our understanding of the biology of microcirculatory cells in the context of pulmonary hypertension, specifically pericytes. Attendees will be introduced to the Higd1b gene as a novel pericyte-specific marker, enabling clear distinction from other mural cell populations. The session will delve into the plasticity of pericytes, particularly their ability to transition into smooth muscle-like cells under hypoxic conditions. Yuan will examine the dynamic role of pericytes in vascular remodeling, focusing on their surface expansion and contribution to angiogenesis in flow- and shear stress–induced pulmonary hypertension models, such as post-pneumonectomy. 

Key Learning Objectives:

• Identify Higd1b as a pericyte-specific marker that distinguishes pericytes from other mural cell populations.
• Understand the plasticity of pericytes and their transition into smooth muscle-like cells in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.
• Understand how pericytes expand their surface coverage and potentially promote angiogenesis in flow- and shear stress–induced pulmonary hypertension following pneumonectomy.

Speaker

Ke Yuan, PhD, FAHA
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Ke Yuan, PhD, is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She received her PhD in biology from Temple University and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine at Stanford University. Yuan’s group specializes in pulmonary vascular biology with a focus on pulmonary arterial hypertension, pericyte function, and mitochondrial metabolism. Her research utilizes innovative genetic models, advanced single-cell technologies, and high-resolution imaging to elucidate critical mechanisms of vascular remodeling.

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