Telocytes and Macrophages in the Gut: From Morphology to Function, Do the Two Cell Types Interact with Each Other? Which Helps Which?

Telocytes and macrophages are ubiquitous cells located in loose connective tissues and share the same mesenchymal origin. Despite these common elements, depending on where they reside, these two cell types are profoundly different in terms of their morphology and functions. The purpose of this revie...

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Main Author: Maria Giuliana Vannucchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/15/8435
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author Maria Giuliana Vannucchi
author_facet Maria Giuliana Vannucchi
author_sort Maria Giuliana Vannucchi
collection DOAJ
description Telocytes and macrophages are ubiquitous cells located in loose connective tissues and share the same mesenchymal origin. Despite these common elements, depending on where they reside, these two cell types are profoundly different in terms of their morphology and functions. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the knowledge regarding telocytes and macrophages in the gut, where their presence and significance have long been underestimated or misunderstood. The focus will be on the possibility that these two cell types interact with each other and on the potential meaning of these interactions. Based on the complexity of the topic, the variety of possible methodological approaches and the expertise of the author, the point of view in the discussion of the literature data will be mainly morphological. Furthermore, considering the relatively recent period in which these cell types have acquired a primary role in gastrointestinal functions, the attention will be greatly confined to those articles published in the last decade. The microbiota, another main protagonist in this context, will be mentioned only in passing. It is hoped that this review, although not exhaustive, will highlight the importance of macrophages and telocytes in the complex mechanisms that ensure intestinal functions.
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spelling doaj.art-7d803506f80d4592a64a7fc9d5ce9bb12023-11-30T22:27:56ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-07-012315843510.3390/ijms23158435Telocytes and Macrophages in the Gut: From Morphology to Function, Do the Two Cell Types Interact with Each Other? Which Helps Which?Maria Giuliana Vannucchi0Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, ItalyTelocytes and macrophages are ubiquitous cells located in loose connective tissues and share the same mesenchymal origin. Despite these common elements, depending on where they reside, these two cell types are profoundly different in terms of their morphology and functions. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the knowledge regarding telocytes and macrophages in the gut, where their presence and significance have long been underestimated or misunderstood. The focus will be on the possibility that these two cell types interact with each other and on the potential meaning of these interactions. Based on the complexity of the topic, the variety of possible methodological approaches and the expertise of the author, the point of view in the discussion of the literature data will be mainly morphological. Furthermore, considering the relatively recent period in which these cell types have acquired a primary role in gastrointestinal functions, the attention will be greatly confined to those articles published in the last decade. The microbiota, another main protagonist in this context, will be mentioned only in passing. It is hoped that this review, although not exhaustive, will highlight the importance of macrophages and telocytes in the complex mechanisms that ensure intestinal functions.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/15/8435PDGFRα-positive cellsinterstitial cellsimmune cellscell contactstransmission electron microscopyimmunohistochemistry
spellingShingle Maria Giuliana Vannucchi
Telocytes and Macrophages in the Gut: From Morphology to Function, Do the Two Cell Types Interact with Each Other? Which Helps Which?
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
PDGFRα-positive cells
interstitial cells
immune cells
cell contacts
transmission electron microscopy
immunohistochemistry
title Telocytes and Macrophages in the Gut: From Morphology to Function, Do the Two Cell Types Interact with Each Other? Which Helps Which?
title_full Telocytes and Macrophages in the Gut: From Morphology to Function, Do the Two Cell Types Interact with Each Other? Which Helps Which?
title_fullStr Telocytes and Macrophages in the Gut: From Morphology to Function, Do the Two Cell Types Interact with Each Other? Which Helps Which?
title_full_unstemmed Telocytes and Macrophages in the Gut: From Morphology to Function, Do the Two Cell Types Interact with Each Other? Which Helps Which?
title_short Telocytes and Macrophages in the Gut: From Morphology to Function, Do the Two Cell Types Interact with Each Other? Which Helps Which?
title_sort telocytes and macrophages in the gut from morphology to function do the two cell types interact with each other which helps which
topic PDGFRα-positive cells
interstitial cells
immune cells
cell contacts
transmission electron microscopy
immunohistochemistry
url https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/15/8435
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