Figure 2. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) have the potential to give rise to endothelial cells and pericytes.

A. With the induction of activated Notch signaling, GSCs transdifferentiate into endothelial-cell progenitors, which further differentiate into endothelial cells by VEGF induction. GSCs also have potential to generate pericytes. When induced by TGF-β, GSCs, which are recruited by endothelial cells via SDF-1/CXCR4 chemokine signaling, can transdifferentiate into pericytes. B. GSC-derived pericytes and GSC-derived endothelial cells, together with normal pericytes and endothelial cells, contribute to tumor vessel function and tumor development.