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Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function
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Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2020) | Viewed by 37463

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sanda M. Cretoiu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroii Sanitari Blvd., 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: interstitial cells; tissue remodelling; intercellular signalling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A Special Issue on the hot topic of “Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function” is being prepared for the journal IJMS.

Interstitial cells are seen as any of the many cells that lies in connective tissue, filling the spaces between the functional tissue of an organ (parenchyma). Cells that use the name interstitial are found in many locations, such as the seminiferous tubules of the testes, and ovaries, the medulla and cortex of the kidney, etc. Moreover, in this category, we also include the interstitial cells of Cajal.

In recent years, special attention has been given to the telocytes, formerly known as interstitial Cajal-like cells. Telocytes represent a particular type of interstitial cells, seen as “connecting devices” integrating the overall information from the vascular, nervous and immune system, interstitium, and stem cells.

This Special Issue is devoted to recent progress in research onto interstitial cells in general. It also aims to form an opinion on the controversial role of telocytes and especially to see them integrated in the context of the concept of interstitial cells.

Outstanding experts interested in this thematic issue are very welcome to send original manuscripts and reviews dealing with any of the abovementioned cells.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Life.

Dr. Sanda Cretoiu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • interstitial cells
  • interstitial cells of Cajal
  • telocytes
  • intercellular communication
  • extracellular vesicles

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 173 KiB  
Editorial
Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function
by Sanda Maria Crețoiu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5271; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22105271 - 17 May 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1708
Abstract
The Special Issue, “Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function” of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, is dedicated to recent progress in research on interstitial cells [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

13 pages, 3391 KiB  
Article
Identification of CD34+/PGDFRα+ Valve Interstitial Cells (VICs) in Human Aortic Valves: Association of Their Abundance, Morphology and Spatial Organization with Early Calcific Remodeling
by Grzegorz J. Lis, Andrzej Dubrowski, Maciej Lis, Bernard Solewski, Karolina Witkowska, Veronika Aleksandrovych, Ewa Jasek-Gajda, Mateusz K. Hołda, Krzysztof Gil and Jan A. Litwin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(17), 6330; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21176330 - 31 Aug 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2753
Abstract
Aortic valve interstitial cells (VICs) constitute a heterogeneous population involved in the maintenance of unique valvular architecture, ensuring proper hemodynamic function but also engaged in valve degeneration. Recently, cells similar to telocytes/interstitial Cajal-like cells described in various organs were found in heart valves. [...] Read more.
Aortic valve interstitial cells (VICs) constitute a heterogeneous population involved in the maintenance of unique valvular architecture, ensuring proper hemodynamic function but also engaged in valve degeneration. Recently, cells similar to telocytes/interstitial Cajal-like cells described in various organs were found in heart valves. The aim of this study was to examine the density, distribution, and spatial organization of a VIC subset co-expressing CD34 and PDGFRα in normal aortic valves and to investigate if these cells are associated with the occurrence of early signs of valve calcific remodeling. We examined 28 human aortic valves obtained upon autopsy. General valve morphology and the early signs of degeneration were assessed histochemically. The studied VICs were identified by immunofluorescence (CD34, PDGFRα, vimentin), and their number in standardized parts and layers of the valves was evaluated. In order to show the complex three-dimensional structure of CD34+/PDGFRα+ VICs, whole-mount specimens were imaged by confocal microscopy, and subsequently rendered using the Imaris (Bitplane AG, Zürich, Switzerland) software. CD34+/PDGFRα+ VICs were found in all examined valves, showing significant differences in the number, distribution within valve tissue, spatial organization, and morphology (spherical/oval without projections; numerous short projections; long, branching, occasionally moniliform projections). Such a complex morphology was associated with the younger age of the subjects, and these VICs were more frequent in the spongiosa layer of the valve. Both the number and percentage of CD34+/PDGFRα+ VICs were inversely correlated with the age of the subjects. Valves with histochemical signs of early calcification contained a lower number of CD34+/PDGFRα+ cells. They were less numerous in proximal parts of the cusps, i.e., areas prone to calcification. The results suggest that normal aortic valves contain a subpopulation of CD34+/PDGFRα+ VICs, which might be involved in the maintenance of local microenvironment resisting to pathologic remodeling. Their reduced number in older age could limit the self-regenerative properties of the valve stroma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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16 pages, 4109 KiB  
Article
A Two-Step Immunomagnetic Microbead-Based Method for the Isolation of Human Primary Skin Telocytes/CD34+ Stromal Cells
by Eloisa Romano, Irene Rosa, Bianca Saveria Fioretto, Elena Lucattelli, Marco Innocenti, Lidia Ibba-Manneschi, Marco Matucci-Cerinic and Mirko Manetti
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(16), 5877; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21165877 - 16 Aug 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3031
Abstract
Telocytes (TCs), commonly referred to as TCs/CD34+ stromal cells, are a peculiar type of interstitial cells with distinctive morphologic traits that are supposed to exert several biological functions, including tissue homeostasis regulation, cell-to-cell signaling, immune surveillance, and reparative/regenerative effects. At present, the majority [...] Read more.
Telocytes (TCs), commonly referred to as TCs/CD34+ stromal cells, are a peculiar type of interstitial cells with distinctive morphologic traits that are supposed to exert several biological functions, including tissue homeostasis regulation, cell-to-cell signaling, immune surveillance, and reparative/regenerative effects. At present, the majority of studies investigating these cells are mainly descriptive and focus only on their morphology, with a consequent paucity of functional data. To gain relevant insight into the possible functions of TCs, in vitro analyses are clearly required, but currently, the protocols for TC isolation are only at the early stages and not fully standardized. In the present in vitro study, we describe a novel methodology for the purification of human primary skin TCs through a two-step immunomagnetic microbead-based cell separation (i.e., negative selection for CD31 followed by positive selection for CD34) capable of discriminating these cells from other connective tissue-resident cells on the basis of their different immunophenotypic features. Our experiments clearly demonstrated that the proposed method allows a selective purification of cells exhibiting the peculiar TC morphology. Isolated TCs displayed very long cytoplasmic extensions with a moniliform silhouette (telopodes) and presented an immunophenotypic profile (CD31−/CD34+/PDGFRα+/vimentin+) that unequivocally differentiates them from endothelial cells (CD31+/CD34+/PDGFRα−/vimentin+) and fibroblasts (CD31−/CD34−/PDGFRα+/vimentin+). This novel methodology for the isolation of TCs lays the groundwork for further research aimed at elucidating their functional properties and possible translational applications, especially in the field of regenerative medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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23 pages, 18198 KiB  
Article
Mechanosensitivity Is a Characteristic Feature of Cultured Suburothelial Interstitial Cells of the Human Bladder
by Jochen Neuhaus, Andreas Gonsior, Sheng Cheng, Jens-Uwe Stolzenburg and Frank Peter Berger
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(15), 5474; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21155474 - 31 Jul 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2346
Abstract
Bladder dysfunction is characterized by urgency, frequency (pollakisuria, nocturia), and dysuria and may lead to urinary incontinence. Most of these symptoms can be attributed to disturbed bladder sensitivity. There is growing evidence that, besides the urothelium, suburothelial interstitial cells (suICs) are involved in [...] Read more.
Bladder dysfunction is characterized by urgency, frequency (pollakisuria, nocturia), and dysuria and may lead to urinary incontinence. Most of these symptoms can be attributed to disturbed bladder sensitivity. There is growing evidence that, besides the urothelium, suburothelial interstitial cells (suICs) are involved in bladder afferent signal processing. The massive expansion of the bladder during the filling phase implicates mechanical stress delivered to the whole bladder wall. Little is known about the reaction of suICs upon mechanical stress. Therefore, we investigated the effects of mechanical stimulation in cultured human suICs. We used fura-2 calcium imaging as a major physiological readout. We found spontaneous intracellular calcium activity in 75 % of the cultured suICs. Defined local pressure application via a glass micropipette led to local increased calcium activity in all stimulated suICs, spreading over the whole cell. A total of 51% of the neighboring cells in a radius of up to 100 µm from the stimulated cell showed an increased activity. Hypotonic ringer and shear stress also induced calcium transients. We found an 18-times increase in syncytial activity compared to unstimulated controls, resulting in an amplification of the primary calcium signal elicited in single cells by 50%. Our results speak in favor of a high sensitivity of suICs for mechanical stress and support the view of a functional syncytium between suICs, which can amplify and distribute local stimuli. Previous studies of connexin expression in the human bladder suggest that this mechanism could also be relevant in normal and pathological function of the bladder in vivo. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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15 pages, 14988 KiB  
Article
Interstitial Leydig Cell Tumorigenesis—Leptin and Adiponectin Signaling in Relation to Aromatase Expression in the Human Testis
by Michal Duliban, Ewelina Gorowska-Wojtowicz, Waclaw Tworzydlo, Agnieszka Rak, Malgorzata Brzoskwinia, Izabella Krakowska, Jan K. Wolski, Malgorzata Kotula-Balak, Bartosz J. Płachno and Barbara Bilinska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(10), 3649; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21103649 - 21 May 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3123
Abstract
Although epidemiological studies from the last years report an increase in the incidences of Leydig cell tumors (previously thought to be a rare disease), the biochemical characteristics of that tumor important for understanding its etiology, diagnosis, and therapy still remains not completely characterized. [...] Read more.
Although epidemiological studies from the last years report an increase in the incidences of Leydig cell tumors (previously thought to be a rare disease), the biochemical characteristics of that tumor important for understanding its etiology, diagnosis, and therapy still remains not completely characterized. Our prior studies reported G-protein coupled estrogen receptor signaling and estrogen level disturbances in Leydig cell tumors. In addition, we found that expressions of multi-level-acting lipid balance- and steroidogenesis–controlling proteins including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor are altered in this tumor. In order to get deeper into the other molecular mechanisms that regulate lipid homeostasis in the Leydig cell tumor, here we investigate the presence and expression of newly-described hormones responsible for lipid homeostasis balancing (leptin and adiponectin), together with expression of estrogen synthase (aromatase). Samples of Leydig cell tumors (n = 20) were obtained from patients (31–45 years old) and used for light and transmission electron microscopic, western blotting, and immunohistochemical analyses. In addition, body mass index (BMI) was calculated. In tumor mass, abundant lipid accumulation in Leydig cells and various alterations of Leydig cell shape, as well as the presence of adipocyte-like cells, were observed. Marked lipid content and various lipid droplet size, especially in obese patients, may indicate alterations in lipid homeostasis, lipid processing, and steroidogenic organelle function in response to interstitial tissue pathological changes. We revealed significantly increased expression of leptin, adiponectin and their receptors, as well as aromatase in Leydig cell tumors in comparison to control. The majority of patients (n = 13) were overweight as indicated by their BMI. Moreover, a significant increase in expression of phospholipase C (PLC), and kinases Raf, ERK which are part of adipokine transductional pathways, was demonstrated. These data expand our previous findings suggesting that in human Leydig cell tumors, estrogen level and signaling, together with lipid status, are related to each other. Increased BMI may contribute to certain biochemical characteristics and function of the Leydig cell in infertile patients with a tumor. In addition, altered adipokine-estrogen microenvironment can have an effect on proliferation, growth, and metastasis of tumor cells. We report here various targets (receptors, enzymes, hormones) controlling lipid balance and estrogen action in Leydig cell tumors indicating their possible usefulness for diagnostics and therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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19 pages, 5242 KiB  
Article
Simulation and Modeling of Telocytes Behavior in Signaling and Intercellular Communication Processes
by Dragos Cretoiu, Simona Roatesi, Ion Bica, Cezar Plesca, Amado Stefan, Oana Bajenaru, Carmen Elena Condrat and Sanda Maria Cretoiu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(7), 2615; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21072615 - 09 Apr 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2616
Abstract
Background: Telocytes (TCs) are unique interstitial or stromal cells of mesodermal origin, defined by long cellular extensions called telopodes (Tps) which form a network, connecting them to surrounding cells. TCs were previously found around stem and progenitor cells, and were thought to be [...] Read more.
Background: Telocytes (TCs) are unique interstitial or stromal cells of mesodermal origin, defined by long cellular extensions called telopodes (Tps) which form a network, connecting them to surrounding cells. TCs were previously found around stem and progenitor cells, and were thought to be most likely involved in local tissue metabolic equilibrium and regeneration. The roles of telocytes are still under scientific scrutiny, with existing studies suggesting they possess various functions depending on their location. Methods: Human myometrium biopsies were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women, telocytes were then investigated in myometrial interstitial cell cultures based on morphological criteria and later prepared for time-lapse microscopy. Semi-analytical and numerical solutions were developed to highlight the geometric characteristics and the behavior of telocytes. Results: Results were gathered in a database which would further allow efficient telocyte tracking and indexing in a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) of digital medical images. Mathematical analysis revealed pivotal information regarding the homogeneity, hardness and resistance of telocytes’ structure. Cellular activity models were monitored in vitro, therefore supporting the creation of databases of telocyte images. Conclusions: The obtained images were analyzed, using segmentation techniques and mathematical models in conjunction with computer simulation, in order to depict TCs behavior in relation to surrounding cells. This paper brings an important contribution to the development of bioinformatics systems by creating software-based telocyte models that could be used both for diagnostic and educational purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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20 pages, 6547 KiB  
Article
Identification of Telocytes in the Pancreas of Turtles—A role in Cellular Communication
by Noor Samad Gandahi, Botao Ding, Yonghong Shi, Xuebing Bai, Jameel Ahmed Gandahi, Waseem Ali Vistro, Qiusheng Chen and Ping Yang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(6), 2057; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21062057 - 17 Mar 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3258
Abstract
The existence of telocytes (TCs) has not yet been established in the pancreases of aquatic reptiles. Here, we report TCs in the exocrine pancreas of Pelodiscus sinensis using transmission electron microscope (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) techniques. TCs surrounded the acini and [...] Read more.
The existence of telocytes (TCs) has not yet been established in the pancreases of aquatic reptiles. Here, we report TCs in the exocrine pancreas of Pelodiscus sinensis using transmission electron microscope (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence (IF) techniques. TCs surrounded the acini and ducts of the connective tissue of the exocrine pancreas and between lobules and gland cells. The cells were located preferably close to the blood vessels, interlobular ducts, and nerve fibers. Ultrastructurally, TCs exhibited small and large bodies with thick and thin portions, podoms, and podomers, and prolongations that form dichotomous branching with hetero-cellular and homo-cellular junctions. The podom (thick) portions showed caveolae, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and vesicles. The nucleus carries heterochromatin and is irregular in shape. The shape of TCs depends on the number of telopodes (Tps) bearing long, short, spindle, triangular, and “beads on a string” shapes with twisted, tortuous prolongations and ramifications. Shed extracellular vesicles and exosomes were found frequently released from projections and Tps within connective tissue in the vicinity of the acini and collagen fibers. IHC and IF results showed CD34+, α-SMA+, and vimentin+, long and triangle-shaped TCs, consistent with the TEM findings. The presence of shaded vesicles from TCs might implicate their possible role in immune surveillance, tissue regeneration as well as regulatory functions in the reptilian pancreas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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Review

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19 pages, 6445 KiB  
Review
Telocytes/CD34+ Stromal Cells in Pathologically Affected White Adipose Tissue
by Lucio Díaz-Flores, Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ma Pino García, Miriam González-Gómez, Jose Luís Carrasco, Hugo Alvarez-Argüelles and Lucio Díaz-Flores, Jr.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9694; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21249694 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2530
Abstract
We studied telocytes/CD34+ stromal cells (TCs/CD34+SCs) in pathologically affected white adipose tissue after briefly examining them in normal fat. To this aim, we reviewed pathological processes, including original contributions, in which TCs/CD34+SCs are conserved, increased, and lost, or acquire a specific arrangement. The [...] Read more.
We studied telocytes/CD34+ stromal cells (TCs/CD34+SCs) in pathologically affected white adipose tissue after briefly examining them in normal fat. To this aim, we reviewed pathological processes, including original contributions, in which TCs/CD34+SCs are conserved, increased, and lost, or acquire a specific arrangement. The pathologic processes in which TCs/CD34+SCs are studied in adipose tissue include inflammation and repair through granulation tissue, iatrogenic insulin-amyloid type amyloidosis, non-adipose tissue components (nerve fascicles and fibres in neuromas and hyperplastic neurogenic processes) and tumours (signet ring carcinoma with Krukenberg tumour and colon carcinoma) growing in adipose tissue, adipose tissue tumours (spindle cell lipoma, dendritic fibromyxolipoma, pleomorphic lipoma, infiltrating angiolipoma of skeletal muscle and elastofibrolipoma), lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum, nevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis of Hoffman–Zurhelle and irradiated adipose tissue of the perirectal and thymic regions. Two highly interesting issues emerged: (1) whether the loss of CD34 expression in TCs/CD34+SCs is by changes in marker expression or the disappearance of these cells (the findings suggest the first possibility) and (2) whether in some invasive and metastatic malignant tumours, TCs/CD34+SCs that completely surround neoplastic cells act as nurse and/or isolating cells. Further studies are required on adipose tissue TCs/CD34+SCs, mainly in lipomatosis and obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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18 pages, 1085 KiB  
Review
Understanding the Biology of Human Interstitial Cells of Cajal in Gastrointestinal Motility
by Daphne Foong, Jerry Zhou, Ali Zarrouk, Vincent Ho and Michael D. O’Connor
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(12), 4540; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21124540 - 25 Jun 2020
Cited by 56 | Viewed by 6847
Abstract
Millions of patients worldwide suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders such as gastroparesis. These disorders typically include debilitating symptoms, such as chronic nausea and vomiting. As no cures are currently available, clinical care is limited to symptom management, while the underlying causes of [...] Read more.
Millions of patients worldwide suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders such as gastroparesis. These disorders typically include debilitating symptoms, such as chronic nausea and vomiting. As no cures are currently available, clinical care is limited to symptom management, while the underlying causes of impaired GI motility remain unaddressed. The efficient movement of contents through the GI tract is facilitated by peristalsis. These rhythmic slow waves of GI muscle contraction are mediated by several cell types, including smooth muscle cells, enteric neurons, telocytes, and specialised gut pacemaker cells called interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). As ICC dysfunction or loss has been implicated in several GI motility disorders, ICC represent a potentially valuable therapeutic target. Due to their availability, murine ICC have been extensively studied at the molecular level using both normal and diseased GI tissue. In contrast, relatively little is known about the biology of human ICC or their involvement in GI disease pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrate human gastric tissue as a source of primary human cells with ICC phenotype. Further characterisation of these cells will provide new insights into human GI biology, with the potential for developing novel therapies to address the fundamental causes of GI dysmotility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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15 pages, 3029 KiB  
Review
The Telocytes: Ten Years after Their Introduction in the Scientific Literature. An Update on Their Morphology, Distribution, and Potential Roles in the Gut
by Maria Giuliana Vannucchi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(12), 4478; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21124478 - 24 Jun 2020
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4669
Abstract
Ten years ago, the term ‘telocyte’ was introduced in the scientific literature to describe a ‘new’ cell type described in the connective tissue of several organs by Popescu and Faussone-Pellegrini (2010). Since then, 368 papers containing the term ‘telocyte’ have been [...] Read more.
Ten years ago, the term ‘telocyte’ was introduced in the scientific literature to describe a ‘new’ cell type described in the connective tissue of several organs by Popescu and Faussone-Pellegrini (2010). Since then, 368 papers containing the term ‘telocyte’ have been published, 261 of them in the last five years. These numbers underscore the growing interest in this cell type in the scientific community and the general acceptance of the name telocyte to indicate this interstitial cell. Most of these studies, while confirming the importance of transmission electron microscopy to identify the telocytes with certainty, highlight the variability of their immune phenotypes. This variability was interpreted as due to (i) the ability of the telocytes to adapt to the different sites in which they reside; (ii) the distinct functions they are likely to perform; and (iii) the existence of telocyte subtypes. In the present paper, an overview of the last 10 years of literature on telocytes located in the gut will be attempted, confining the revision to the morphological findings. A distinct chapter will be dedicated to the recently hypothesized role of the telocytes the intestinal mucosa. Through this review, it will be shown that telocytes, despite their variability, are a unique interstitial cell. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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21 pages, 7828 KiB  
Review
Telocytes in the Normal and Pathological Peripheral Nervous System
by Lucio Díaz-Flores, Ricardo Gutiérrez, Mª Pino García, Sara Gayoso, Emma Gutiérrez, Lucio Díaz-Flores, Jr. and José Luis Carrasco
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(12), 4320; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21124320 - 17 Jun 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3419
Abstract
We studied telocytes/CD34+ stromal cells in the normal and pathological peripheral nervous system (PNS), for which we reviewed the literature and contributed our observations under light and electron microscopy in this field. We consider the following aspects: (A) general characteristics of telocytes and [...] Read more.
We studied telocytes/CD34+ stromal cells in the normal and pathological peripheral nervous system (PNS), for which we reviewed the literature and contributed our observations under light and electron microscopy in this field. We consider the following aspects: (A) general characteristics of telocytes and the terminology used for these cells (e.g., endoneurial stromal cells) in PNS; (B) the presence, characteristics and arrangement of telocytes in the normal PNS, including (i) nerve epi-perineurium and endoneurium (e.g., telopodes extending into the endoneurial space); (ii) sensory nerve endings (e.g., Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles, and neuromuscular spindles); (iii) ganglia; and (iv) the intestinal autonomic nervous system; (C) the telocytes in the pathologic PNS, encompassing (i) hyperplastic neurogenic processes (neurogenic hyperplasia of the appendix and gallbladder), highly demonstrative of telocyte characteristics and relations, (ii) PNS tumours, such as neurofibroma, schwannoma, granular cell tumour and nerve sheath myxoma, and interstitial cell of Cajal-related gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), (iii) tumour-invaded nerves and (iv) traumatic, metabolic, degenerative or genetic neuropathies, in which there are fewer studies on telocytes, e.g., neuroinflammation and nerves in undescended testicles (cryptorchidism), Klinefelter syndrome, crush injury, mucopolysaccharidosis II (Hunter’s syndrome) and Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Telocytes and Other Interstitial Cells: From Structure to Function)
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