Browsing by Subject "Interstitial cells"

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    Telocytes in skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle interstitium: morphological and functional aspects
    (Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2018) Marini, Mirca; Rosa, Irene; iIbba Mannesch, Lidia; Manetti, Mirko
    Telocytes (TCs) represent a new distinct type of cells found in the stromal compartment of many organs, including the skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles. TCs are morphologically defined as interstitial cells with a small cellular body from which arise very long (up to hundreds of micrometers) and thin moniliform processes (named telopodes) featuring the alternation of slender segments (called podomers) and small dilated portions (called podoms) accommodating some organelles. Although these stromal cells are mainly characterized by their ultrastructural traits, in the last few years TCs have been increasingly studied for their immunophenotypes, microRNA profiles, and gene expression and proteomic signatures. By their longdistance spreading telopodes, TCs build a threedimensional network throughout the whole stromal space and communicate with each other and neighboring cells through homocellular and heterocellular junctions, respectively. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that TCs may exert paracrine functions being able to transfer genetic information and signaling molecules to other cells via the release of different types of extracellular vesicles. A close relationship between TCs and stem/progenitor cell niches has also been described in several organs. However, the specific functions of TCs located in the muscle interstitium remain to be unraveled. Here, we review the morphological and possible functional aspects of TCs in skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle tissues. The potential involvement of TCs in muscle tissue pathological changes and future possibilities for targeting TCs as a novel promising therapeutic strategy to foster muscle tissue regeneration and repair are also discussed.
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    The primary cilium: A relevant characteristic in interstitial cells of rat duodenum enteric plexus
    (Murcia: F. Hernández, 2011) Junquera Escribano, Concepción; Cantarero Carmona, Irene; Luesma Bartolomé, María José; Soriano Navarro, Mario; Martínez Ciriano, Carmen; Castiella Muruzábal, Tomás; García-Verdugo, José María
    Studies in vitro have permitted the identification of enteric neural progenitor cells. Now the question arises as to where these progenitor cells are located in vivo. The purpose of this paper is to identify possible candidate cells by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We have located three interstitial cellular types around the rat duodenum myenteric plexus. Type I cells have been identified as Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICCs). These cells present well defined ultrastructural characteristics, including the triple connexion ICnervous trunk- blood vessels. Type II cells show characteristics of immature cells, emphasizing the presence of a single cilium with the structure (9+0). To analyse this nanostructure, we have elaborated a reconstruction on ultrathin sections. The two previously described cellular types could be considered to be different functional states of the same cell. Type III cells present ultrastructural characteristics of fibroblast-like cells. This study suggests that Type II cells could be a source of neural progenitor cells.