BACKGROUND:Pericytes, which are widely distributed in the microvasculature except lymphatic vessels, are not only a constituent of microvessels, but also play an important role in microvascular occurrence, development, stability, maturity and remodeling. Its signal transduction is currently a hot spot. OBJECTIVE:To review recent advances in the signal pathways related to pericytes and angiogenesis. METHODS:We retrieved PubMed database, Wanfang database, CNKI database and China Biology Medicine disc for articles addressing pericytes and angiogenesis published from 1994 to 2014. The keywords were “pricytes; endothelial cels; microvessels; signal transduction” in English and Chinese, respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the early stage of capilary formation, recruitment of pericytes contributes to the occurrence and development of new blood capilaries. However, in the late stage of angiogenesis, pericytes inhibit endothelial cel proliferation and promote endothelial cel differentiation, thereby promoting vascular maturation, maintaining normal structure and regulating their permeability. In this process, signaling pathways of platelet-derived growth factor B/platelet-derived growth factor receptor β, transforming growth factor β, angiopoietin-1/Tie-2, human heparin binding epidermal growth factor/ErbBs, and stromal cel derived factor 1α/CXCR4 play an important regulatory role in pericytes and angiogenesis.

Contemporary orthodontic care should be a team approach to achieve health and esthetics of soft and hard tissue. It should be given enough attention that periodontal health provides the foundation for tooth movement, and that distinct esthetic results can be achieved by subtle changes in tooth alignment and gingival contours. Orthodontic treatment planning should include evaluation of gingival health and esthetics to anticipate the need for interdisciplinary approaches. Studies on the effect of orthodontic treatment on gingiva can provides basis for maintaining gingival health and esthetic. This article will focus primarily on the gingival health and esthetic care in orthodontic treatment.
Esthetics ; Esthetics, Dental ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Tooth Movement Techniques