Table 2.
Canonical cell markers in healthy cells and in the tumor microenvironment.
| Cell Types | Markers | Comments | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endothelial cells | CD31 | PECAM-1, homotypic cell adhesion | [60] |
| CD93 | CD248 family member | [60,74] | |
| CLDN5 | Claudin 5 | [60] | |
| CDH5 | Cadherin 5 | [60] | |
| Pericytes (PCs) | PDGFRβ | Receptor for platelet-derived growth factor | [59] |
| NG2 | Encoded by Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 CSPG4 gene. | [59,60] | |
| Desmin | [59] | ||
| CD13 | Alanyl Aminopeptidase N | [59] | |
| CD248 | Endosialin (TEM-1), highly expressed in tumor tissues (PCs > pMSCs) | [59,61,75] | |
| KCNJ8 | Kir6.1, Potassium inwardly rectifying channel, associates with Abcc9 | [59,60,76] | |
| Vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) | PDGFRβ | Levels in PCs > vSMCs | [77] |
| NG2 | [77] | ||
| Desmin | Muscle class III intermediate filament | [77] | |
| CD13 | |||
| RGS5 | Regulator of G protein signaling 5 GTPase activating protein | [59,64,78] | |
| CD146 | Melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) | [59,78] | |
| α- SMA | Alpha smooth muscle cell actin encoded by ACTA2. Level of expression in vSMCs >> PCs | [59] | |
| TAGLN | Transgelin, smooth muscle protein 22 alpha (SM22). | [59] | |
| Perivascular MSCs (also known as vascular fibroblasts) | VIM FSP FAP PDGFRβ |
Vimentin, intermediate-filament ass. protein intermediate-filament ass. protein Fib activation protein alpha, serine protease |
[79] |
| PDGFRα | [60] | ||
| CD13 | [79] | ||
| COL1A1 | pMSCs also express high levels of COL1A2, COL3A1, and COL4A1. Much less expressed by PCs’ | ||
| LAMA-1 | laminin subunit alpha 1, also expressed by epithelial cells | [60] | |
| LUM | Lumican | [60] | |
| DCN | Decorin | [60] | |
| MPZL2 | Myelin protein zero-like 2, adhesion | [60] | |
| SRPX2 | Sushi repeat-containing protein X-linked 2 | [60] | |
| FN | Fibronectin, also expressed by PCs/scar tissue | [80] | |
| Tumor-associated Macrophages (TAMs) | CD11b/CD18 | Complement receptor type 3 involved in phagocytosis of host cell debris | [81,82] |
| CD163 | Scavenger receptor, M2 anti-inflammatory | [83] | |
|
C1q/C3
CD68 |
Complement factors | [84] |
Adapted from Ah-Pine et al., 2023 [67]. Several markers are shared between the different subsets of periendothelial/perivascular cells, while others (in bold) are restricted (but not exclusive) to specific subsets. CD248, also known as TEM1: tumor endothelial marker 1, but subsequently found on pericytes around vessels but not expressed by endothelial cells.