Vimentin-positive, c-KIT-negative interstitial cells in human and rat uterus: A role in pacemaking?
Vimentin-positive, c-KIT-negative interstitial cells in human and rat uterus: A role in pacemaking?
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DOI：
10.1095/biolreprod.104.033506
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发表时间：
2005-02-01
影响因子：
3.6
通讯作者：
Wray, S
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Duquette, RA;Shmygol, A;Wray, S
子宫内自发性起搏电位的机制尚不清楚。一些自发活动的平滑肌具有Cajal间质细胞（ICC）或ICC样细胞。因此，我们检查了来自新鲜分散的子宫肌条（来自妊娠的人和大鼠子宫肌层）和原位子宫制备物的细胞，以确定存在的细胞类型。两种制剂都显示出大量ICC样细胞;它们是多极的，具有蜘蛛状突起和扩大的中心区域。这些细胞通过其形态和超微结构容易与子宫肌细胞区分，即，无肌丝，有大量线粒体、小窝和肌丝。此外，ICC样细胞是非收缩性的。这些细胞对c-kit呈阴性，c-kit是ICC的经典标志物。它们对中间丝、波形蛋白染色呈阳性，波形蛋白是间充质来源的细胞而不是分化的肌细胞的标志物。ICC样细胞的静息膜电位为-58 +/-7 mV，而平滑肌细胞的静息膜电位为-65 +/-13 mV，ICC样细胞的静息膜电位或多或少比较稳定，并在电压钳脉冲作用下产生外向电流。然而，与子宫肌细胞相反，未观察到内向电流。这是第一次描述子宫肌层中的ICC样细胞，并讨论了它们在子宫中的作用，可能是内在平滑肌活性的抑制剂。
The mechanism underlying spontaneous pacemaker potential in the uterus is not clearly understood. Several spontaneously active smooth muscles have interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) or ICC-like cells. We therefore examined cells from freshly dispersed uterine muscle strips (from pregnant human and rat myometrium) and in situ uterine preparations to determine the cell types present. Both preparations revealed numerous ICC-like cells; they were multipolar, with spider-like projections and enlarged central regions. These cells were readily distinguished from uterine myocytes by their morphology and ultrastructure, i.e., no myofilaments, numerous mitochondria, caveolae, and filaments. In addition, the ICC-like cells were noncontractile. These cells were negative to c-kit, a classic marker for ICCs. They stained positive for the intermediate filament, vimentin, a marker for cells of mesenchymal origin but not differentiated myocytes. The ICC-like cells had a more or less stable resting membrane potential of -58 +/- 7 mV compared with smooth-muscle cells, -65 +/- 13 mV, and produced outward current in response to voltage clamp pulses. However, in contrast with uterine myocytes, inward currents were not observed. This is the first description of ICC-like cells in myometrium and their role in the uterus is discussed, as possible inhibitors of intrinsic smooth-muscle activity.