Meningeal Cells (MC)

Meningeal cells (MC) are specialized fibroblast-like cells that surround the central nervous system (CNS) and major blood vessels. They have been found to co-operate with astrocytes in the initial formation of the glia limitans during development and participate in its continued maintenance throughout life. Artificially induced destruction of meningeal cells during CNS development have been found to result in the alteration of subpial extracellular matrix and a disruption of the glia limitans.The glia limitans has also proven to be important in the recovery of the CNS after injuries.

In primary cultures, meningeal cells produce the fibrillary collagens type I, III, and VI, and the matrix molecules fibronectin and laminin, collagen type IV, nidogen, and heparansulphate proteoglycan. These findings indicate that meningeal cells produce molecular components of both the interstitial matrix and the basement membrane, and are involved in the morphological transformation of glial fibres into the endfeet which constitute the superficial glia limitans.