Cerebral endothelial cells (ECs) fate and cellular sources for pericyte regeneration after stroke are unclear. by genetic tracing, we identified ECs undergoing cell-fate changing, likely through TGFβ-mediated transdifferentiation, into pericytes. Some of the migrating pericytes induced by stroke are derived from detached ECs. The EC-transformed pericytes can integrate into vasculature again, suggesting ischemic brains can recycle ECs from unfunctional vessels to replenish lost pericytes as an innate self-maintenance program sustaining repair phenomena.

Ischemic brains regenerate vascular mural pericytes by recycling detached endothelial cells, depending on TGFβ signaling