Interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) in atrial myocardium: ultrastructural and immunohistochemical characterization

We have previously reported (Hinescu & Popescu, 2005) the existence of interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC), by transmission electron microscopy, in human atrial myocardium. In the present study, ICLC were identified with non-conventional light microscopy (NCLM) on semi-thin sections stained with toluidine blue and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for CD117/c-kit, CD34, vimentin and other additional antigens for differential diagnosis. Quantitatively, on semi-thin sections, ICLC represent about 1-1.5% of the atrial myocardial volume (vs. approximately 45% working myocytes, approximately 2% endothelial cells, 3-4% for other interstitial cells, and the remaining percentage: extracellular matrix). Roughly, there is one ICLC for 8-10 working atrial myocytes in the intercellular space, beneath the epicardium, with a characteristic (pyriform, spindle or triangular) shape. These ICLC usually have 2-3 definitory processes, emerging from cell body, which usually embrace atrial myocytes (260 nm average distance plasmalemma/sarcolemma) or establish close contact with nerve fibers or capillaries (approximately 420 nm average distance to endothelial cells). Cell prolongations are characteristic: very thin (mean thickness = 0.15+/-0.1 microm), very long for a non-nervous cell (several tens of microm) and moniliform (uneven caliber). Stromal synapses between ICLC and other interstitial cells (macrophages) were found (e.g. in a multicontact type synapse, the average synaptic cleft was approximately 65 nm). Naturally, the usual cell organelles (mitochondria, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, intermediate filaments) are relatively well developed. Caveolae were also visible on cell prolongations. No thick filaments were detected. IHC showed that ICLC were slightly and inconsistently positive for CD117/c-kit, variously co-expressed CD34 and EGF receptor, but appeared strongly positive for vimentin, along their prolongations. Some ICLC seemed positive for a-smooth muscle actin and tau protein, but were negative for nestin, desmin, CD13 and S-100. In conclusion, we provide further evidence of the existence of ICLC in human atrial myocardium, supporting the possible ICLC role in pacemaking, secretion (juxta- and/or paracrine), intercellular signaling (neurons and myocytes). For pathology, ICLC might as well be 'players' in arrhythmogenesis and atrial remodeling.     

Interstitial cells of Cajal in pancreas

We show here (presumably for the first time) a special type of cell in the human and rat exocrine pancreas. These cells have phenotypic characteristics of the enteric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). To identify pancreatic interstitial cells of Cajal (pICC) we used routine light microscopy, non-conventional light microscopy (less than 1 mum semi-thin sections of Epon-embedded specimens cut by ultramicrotomy and stained with Toluidine blue), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunocytochemistry. The results showed that pICC can be recognized easily by light microscopy, particularly on semi-thin sections, as well as by TEM. Two-dimensional reconstructions from serial photos suggest a network-like spatial distribution of pICC. pICC represent 3.3+/-0.5% of all pancreatic cells, and seem to establish close spatial relationships with: capillaries (43%), acini (40%), stellate cells (14%), nerve fibres (3%). Most of pICC (88%) have 2 or 3 long processes (tens of mum) emerging from the cell body. TEM data show that pICC meet the criteria for positive diagnosis as ICC (e.g. numerous mitochondria, 8.7+/-0.8% of cytoplasm). Immunocytochemistry revealed that pICC are CD117/c-kit and CD34 positive. We found pICC positive (40-50%) for smooth muscle alpha-actin or S-100, and, occasionally, for CD68, NK1 neurokinin receptor and vimentin. The reactions for desmin and chromogranin A were negative in pICC. At present, only hypotheses and speculations can be formulated on the possible role of the pICC (e.g., juxtacrine and/or paracrine roles). In conclusion, the quite-established dogma: "ICC only in cavitary organs" is overpassed.     

Novel type of interstitial cell (Cajal-like) in human fallopian tube

We describe here--presumably for the first time--a Cajal-like type of tubal interstitial cells (t-ICC), resembling the archetypal enteric ICC. t-ICC were demonstrated in situ and in vitro on fresh preparations (tissue cryosections and primary cell cultures) using methylene-blue, crystal-violet, Janus-Green B or MitoTracker-Green FM Probe vital stainings. Also, t-ICC were identified in fixed specimens by light microscopy (methylene-blue, Giemsa, trichrome stainings, Gomori silver-impregnation) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The positive diagnosis of t-ICC was strengthened by immunohistochemistry (IHC; CD117/c-kit+ and other 14 antigens) and immunofluorescence (IF; CD117/c-kit+ and other 7 antigens). The spatial density of t-ICC (ampullar-segment cryosections) was 100-150 cells/mm2. Non-conventional light microscopy (NCLM) of Epon semithin-sections revealed a network-like distribution of t-ICC in lamina propria and smooth muscle meshwork. t-ICC appeared located beneath of epithelium, in a 10-15 microm thick 'belt', where 18+/-2% of cells were t-ICC. In the whole lamina propria, t-ICC were about 9%, and in muscularis approximately 7%. In toto, t-ICC represent ~8% of subepithelial cells, as counted by NCLM. In vitro, t-ICC were 9.9+/-0.9% of total cell population. TEM showed that the diagnostic 'gold standard' (Huizinga et al., 1997) is fulfilled by 'our' t-ICC. However, we suggest a 'platinum standard', adding a new defining criterion- characteristic cytoplasmic processes (number: 1-5; length: tens of microm; thickness: < or =0.5 microm; aspect: moniliform; branching: dichotomous; organization: network, labyrinthic-system). Quantitatively, the ultrastructural architecture of t-ICC is: nucleus, 23.6+/-3.2% of cell volume, with heterochromatin 49.1+/-3.8%; mitochondria, 4.8+/-1.7%; rough and smooth endoplasmic-reticulum (1.1+/-0.6%, 1.0+/-0.2%, respectively); caveolae, 3.4+/-0.5%. We found more caveolae on the surface of cell processes versus cell body, as confirmed by IF for caveolins. Occasionally, the so-called 'Ca2+-release units' (subplasmalemmal close associations of caveolae+endoplasmic reticulum+mitochondria) were detected in the dilations of cell processes. Electrophysiological single unit recordings of t-ICC in primary cultures indicated sustained spontaneous electrical activity (amplitude of membrane potentials: 57.26+/-6.56 mV). Besides the CD117/c-kit marker, t-ICC expressed variously CD34, caveolins 1&2, alpha-SMA, S-100, vimentin, nestin, desmin, NK-1. t-ICC were negative for: CD68, CD1a, CD62P, NSE, GFAP, chromogranin-A, PGP9.5, but IHC showed the possible existence of (neuro)endocrine cells in tubal interstitium. We call them 'JF cells'. In conclusion, the identification of t-ICC might open the door for understanding some tubal functions, e.g. pace-making/peristaltism, secretion (auto-, juxta- and/or paracrine), regulation of neurotransmission (nitrergic/purinergic) and intercellular signaling, via the very long processes. Furthermore, t-ICC might even be uncommitted bipotential progenitor cells.     

Interstitial Cajal-like cells in human gallbladder

We describe here an interstitial Cajal-like cell type (ICLC) in human gallbladder, resembling the archetypal enteric interstitial cells of Cajal. Gallbladder ICLC were demonstrated in fresh preparations (tissue cryosections) using methylene-blue, and fixed specimens in Epon semi-thin sections stained with toluidine blue or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The positive diagnosis of gallbladder ICLC was further verified by immunohistochemistry: CD117/c-kit, CD34, and another 16 antigens: vimentin, desmin, nestin, α-smooth muscle actin, NK-1, S-100, PGP-9.5, tau protein, chromogranin A, NSE, GFAP, CD1a, CD62-P, CD68, estrogen and progesterone receptors. Double immunostaining was performed for CD117, CD34 and CD117 and nestin, respectively. In fresh specimens, the spatial density of gallbladder ICLC was 100–110 cells/mm². ICLC mainly appeared beneath the epithelium and in muscularis (about 7%, and ∼5%, respectively). In toto, ICLC represent in gallbladder ∼5.5% of subepithelial cells. TEM showed that diagnostic criteria were fulfilled by ICLC. Moreover, TEM indicated that the main ultrastructural distinctive feature for ICLC, the cell processes, develop into the characteristic shape at a relatively early stage of development. It remains to be established if, in humans, ICLC are involved in gallbladder (dis)functions (e.g. pace-making, secretion (auto-, juxta- and/or paracrine), intercellular signaling, or stone formation). M. E. Hinescu and C. Ardeleanu contributed equally to this study.     

Snapshots of mammary gland interstitial cells: methylene-blue vital staining and c-kit immunopositivity

We show here that methylene-blue supravital staining of specimens from normal human mammary gland reveals (selectively) interstitial (stromal) cells, with 2-3 long (20-80 microm), thin, moniliform processes. Such cells appear c-kit/CD117 positive, either by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunofluorescence (IF). Since these features (affinity for methylene blue, c-kit positivity, and characteristic processes) define archetypal interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in light microscopy, our results suggest the existence of Cajal-like cells in the interstitium of human normal mammary gland.     

糖尿病性膀胱病逼尿肌中SCFmRNA和SCF蛋白的表达

目的：检测DCP逼尿肌中SCF表达水平,探讨SCF基因表达与DCP关系及其发病机制。方法：按1：2病例对照研究,采用链脲佐菌素（STZ）及尿动力学检测成功建立DCP豚鼠20只为实验组,并以同质豚鼠40为对照组,应用RT-PCR和Western-blotting方法分别检测各组膀胱逼尿肌中SCF mRNA、SCF蛋白的表达。结果：DCP豚鼠组织中SCF mRNA表达与正常对照组比较无明显显著差异（P〉0.05）,DCP豚鼠组织中SCF蛋白表达明显低于正常对照组（P〈0.01）。结论：DCP组织中SCF蛋白表达减少与SCF基因翻译水平异常有关,因此高血糖环境下SCF基因表达异常可能是DCP的发病机制之一。     

人类CD34^＋造血干／祖细胞的分子生物学特性

造血干／祖细胞（ＨＳＣ／ＨＰＣ）以有序的不同年龄等级结构状态存在于体内,它们的增殖、分化、成熟及程序死亡是一个连续的动态过程。ＣＤ３４抗原是目前所能认识表达在ＨＳＣ／ＨＰＣ表面上的最早抗原分子,对其分子结构的研究使人们更加认识到ＣＤ３４＾＋ＨＳＣ／ＨＰＣ的不同功能亚群、表达范围及其它生物学特征,诸如细胞周期状态、光散射性、造血生长因子受体（ＨＧＦｓＲ）Ｐ糖蛋白（Ｐｇｐ）或多药耐药基因（ＭＤＲ）的表     

肝素促进脐血巨核祖细胞体外扩增

目的 :探索肝素在脐带血CD34⁺ 细胞定向扩增巨核祖细胞中的作用。方法采用免疫磁珠法 (MACS)分选CD34⁺ 细胞 ,在TPO ,IL 1 1的扩增体系中加入肝素 ,巨核祖细胞集落分析 (CFU MK)测定巨核祖细胞扩增倍数 ,流式细胞仪检测巨核祖细胞分化过程中的特异性标记 (CD34⁺ ,CD41a⁺ ,CD61⁺ ,CD34⁺ CD41a⁺ ,CD41a⁺ CD61 ⁺ ) ,巨核细胞特异性抗体 (CD41a)免疫组化染色和透射电镜观察鉴定巨核细胞形态及超微结构 ,血小板体外活化实验及NOD/SCID小鼠异种体内移植实验评价扩增的巨核祖细胞的功能。结果 :TPO( 5 0ng/ml)与IL-1 1 ( 5 0ng/ml)双因子联合应用 ,7天巨核祖细胞克隆扩增倍数为 83 1 7± 39 41倍 ,1 0天为 2 0 5 0 6± 74 2 6倍 ,流式细胞仪分析显示 7天CD34⁺ CD41a+ 细胞扩增 1 0 5 1± 4 79倍 ,0天加入肝素后 ,7天巨核祖细胞克隆扩增倍数为 1 0 8 2 5± 32 67倍 ,1 0天为 333 0 6± 2 7 5 4倍 ,7天CD34⁺ CD41a⁺ 细胞扩增到 2 9 93± 6 39倍 ,为无肝素组的 2.85倍 ,与双因子组相比有统计学差异 (P <0.0 1 ) ,肝素在第 5天及第 7天加入没有增加巨核祖细胞扩增效果。经全身照射预处理的NOD/SCID小鼠静脉输注扩增第 7天的巨核细胞 (TPO、IL-11、肝素联合 ) ,可明显加速其血小板及白细胞计数的恢复并提高生存率 ;同时 ,体外血小板活化实验证实扩增的巨核细胞在体外可产生血小板 ,有正常巨核细胞功能。结论 :TPO、IL-11组合的扩增体系中加入肝素可进一步改善脐带血巨核祖细胞的扩增效果 ,优化体外扩增体系。     

Endothelial progenitor cells: identity defined?

In the past decade, researchers have gained important insights on the role of bone marrow (BM)-derived cells in adult neovascularization. A subset of BM-derived cells, called endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), has been of particular interest, as these cells were suggested to home to sites of neovascularization and neoendothelialization and differentiate into endothelial cells (ECs) in situ , a process referred to as postnatal vasculogenesis. Therefore, EPCs were proposed as a potential regenerative tool for treating human vascular disease and a possible target to restrict vessel growth in tumour pathology. However, conflicting results have been reported in the field, and the identification, characterization, and exact role of EPCs in vascular biology is still a subject of much discussion. The focus of this review is on the controversial issues in the field of EPCs which are related to the lack of a unique EPC marker, identification challenges related to the paucity of EPCs in the circulation, and the important phenotypical and functional overlap between EPCs, haematopoietic cells and mature ECs. We also discuss our recent findings on the origin of endothelial outgrowth cells (EOCs), showing that this in vitro defined EC population does not originate from circulating CD133⁺ cells or CD45⁺ haematopoietic cells.     

Ultrastructure of Cajal-like interstitial cells in the human detrusor

The aim of this ultrastructural study was to examine the human detrusor for interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)-like cells (ICC-L) by conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immuno-transmission electron microscopy (I-TEM) with antibodies directed towards CD117 and CD34. Two main types of interstitial cells were identified by TEM: ICC-L and fibroblast-like cells (FLC). ICC-L were bipolar with slender (0.04 μm) flattened dendritic-like processes, frequently forming a branching labyrinth network. Caveolae and short membrane-associated dense bands were present. Mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were observed in the cell somata and cytoplasmic processes. Intermediate filaments were abundant but no thick filaments were found. ICC-L were interconnected by close appositions, gap junctions and peg-and-socket junctions (PSJ) but no specialised contacts to smooth muscle or nerves were apparent. FLC were characterised by abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum but no caveolae or membrane-associated dense bands were observed; gap junctions and PSJ were absent and intermediate filaments were rare. By I-TEM, CD34 gold immunolabelling was present in long cytoplasmic processes corresponding to ICC-L between muscle fascicles but CD117 gold immunolabelling was negative. Thus, ICC-like cells are present in the human detrusor. They are CD34-immunoreactive and have a myoid ultrastructure clearly distinguishable from fibroblast-like cells. ICC-L may be analogous to interstitial cells of Cajal in the gut.