Pericytes are also well known for preserving endothelial cell survival both in physiological and pathological conditions mimicking stroke.47, , , , , , , –55 Several signaling pathways have been reported to play a role in this interaction,52,56, , –59 including Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (TGFβ1) – Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1,51 Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A,52,60 Nuclear factor NF-kappa-B55,61, and Angiopoietin-1 (Figure 7).47,50. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is Stroke.