Mural Cells (SpM)

Mural cells are progenitors of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and pericytes. As the endothelial tubes invade organ primordia, they become surrounded by locally-derived mesenchymal cells (precursors of mural cells). Hence, the primordium itself contributes the mural cell layer(s) to the developing vessels, which may result in tissue-specific functional and regulatory properties of pericytes, and SMCs. This is in contrast to endothelial cells, which are thought to be of uniform origin.