Telocytes
Here, we review the history, morphology, immunohistochemical phenotype, and presumptive roles of a new type of interstitial tissue cells, formerly called interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) and by 2010 named ‘telocytes’ (TC). Many different techniques have been used to characterize TC and provide t...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
De Gruyter
2011-12-01
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| Series: | Biomolecular Concepts |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/BMC.2011.039 |
| _version_ | 1819016300021678080 |
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| author | Pellegrini Maria-Simonetta Faussone Popescu Laurenţiu M. |
| author_facet | Pellegrini Maria-Simonetta Faussone Popescu Laurenţiu M. |
| author_sort | Pellegrini Maria-Simonetta Faussone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Here, we review the history, morphology, immunohistochemical phenotype, and presumptive roles of a new type of interstitial tissue cells, formerly called interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) and by 2010 named ‘telocytes’ (TC). Many different techniques have been used to characterize TC and provide their unequivocal identification: (i) in vitro, cultures and isolated cells; (ii) in situ, fixed specimens examined by light and fluorescence microscopy, transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy, and electron tomography. TEM allowed sure identification and characterization of the most peculiar feature of TC: the long, thin, and convoluted prolongations named ‘telopodes’. An enormous variety of antibodies have been tested, but presently none are reliable to specifically label TC. TC have a mesenchymal origin and are resident connective tissue (stromal) cells. Possible identification with ‘already identified’ stromal cell types (fibroblasts, fibrocytes, fibroblast-like cells, and mesenchymal stromal cells) is discussed. We conclude that in adulthood, most of the TC have the morphology of fibrocytes. Apparently, immunocytochemistry suggests that a variety of TC populations showing different, likely organ-specific, immunophenotypes might exist. Several roles have been hypothesized for TC: mechanical roles, intercellular signaling, guiding and nursing of immature cells during organogenesis, and being themselves a pool of precursors for many of the mesenchyme-derived cells in adulthood; however, none of these roles have been proven yet. On the basis of the available data, we propose TC may be key players in organ regeneration and repair. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:45:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f756ae0d4e8949a7b33ae86ec7cbafcd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1868-5021 1868-503X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T02:45:26Z |
| publishDate | 2011-12-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecular Concepts |
| spelling | doaj.art-f756ae0d4e8949a7b33ae86ec7cbafcd2022-12-21T19:18:35ZengDe GruyterBiomolecular Concepts1868-50211868-503X2011-12-012648148910.1515/BMC.2011.039TelocytesPellegrini Maria-Simonetta Faussone0Popescu Laurenţiu M.Section of Histology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50139 Florence, ItalyHere, we review the history, morphology, immunohistochemical phenotype, and presumptive roles of a new type of interstitial tissue cells, formerly called interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) and by 2010 named ‘telocytes’ (TC). Many different techniques have been used to characterize TC and provide their unequivocal identification: (i) in vitro, cultures and isolated cells; (ii) in situ, fixed specimens examined by light and fluorescence microscopy, transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy, and electron tomography. TEM allowed sure identification and characterization of the most peculiar feature of TC: the long, thin, and convoluted prolongations named ‘telopodes’. An enormous variety of antibodies have been tested, but presently none are reliable to specifically label TC. TC have a mesenchymal origin and are resident connective tissue (stromal) cells. Possible identification with ‘already identified’ stromal cell types (fibroblasts, fibrocytes, fibroblast-like cells, and mesenchymal stromal cells) is discussed. We conclude that in adulthood, most of the TC have the morphology of fibrocytes. Apparently, immunocytochemistry suggests that a variety of TC populations showing different, likely organ-specific, immunophenotypes might exist. Several roles have been hypothesized for TC: mechanical roles, intercellular signaling, guiding and nursing of immature cells during organogenesis, and being themselves a pool of precursors for many of the mesenchyme-derived cells in adulthood; however, none of these roles have been proven yet. On the basis of the available data, we propose TC may be key players in organ regeneration and repair.https://doi.org/10.1515/BMC.2011.039fibroblastsinterstitial cajal-like cells (iclc)interstitial cells of cajal (icc)mesenchymal cellstelopodes |
| spellingShingle | Pellegrini Maria-Simonetta Faussone Popescu Laurenţiu M. Telocytes Biomolecular Concepts fibroblasts interstitial cajal-like cells (iclc) interstitial cells of cajal (icc) mesenchymal cells telopodes |
| title | Telocytes |
| title_full | Telocytes |
| title_fullStr | Telocytes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telocytes |
| title_short | Telocytes |
| title_sort | telocytes |
| topic | fibroblasts interstitial cajal-like cells (iclc) interstitial cells of cajal (icc) mesenchymal cells telopodes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/BMC.2011.039 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pellegrinimariasimonettafaussone telocytes AT popesculaurentium telocytes |