Interstitial cells of Cajal: a new perspective on smooth muscle function
Interstitial cells of Cajal: a new perspective on smooth muscle function
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DOI：
10.1113/jphysiol.2006.115279
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发表时间：
2006-11-01
影响因子：
5.5
通讯作者：
Ward, Sean M.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Sanders, Kenton M.;Ward, Sean M.
Cajal间质细胞（ICC）由Ramon y Cajal在100多年前描述。多年来，这些细胞只能通过非特异性的组织学染色来识别，后来，更可靠的是通过电子显微镜来识别。ICC的超微结构特征和解剖位置表明这些细胞的重要生理作用。当我们认识到Kit抗体可用于识别ICC，甚至在活组织中时，我们研究ICC的能力出现了突破。通过受体酪氨酸激酶Kit的信号传导对于ICC的发展和表型的维持也是必要的。因此，通过各种技术阻断Kit，在实验动物中引起ICC的损失，并证明这些细胞在胃肠运动中的关键生理功能。在人类胃肠道疾病中ICC的丧失可能导致观察到的运动病理学。不受限制的Kit信号传导导致ICC的转化和胃肠道间质瘤的发展。现在已经在各种平滑肌组织中发现了ICC样细胞，并且正在发现这些细胞是否在胃肠道外的器官中具有等同甚至新颖的功能。这篇观点文章简要概述了ICC研究的历史和未来调查的方向。
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) were described more than 100 years ago by Ramon y Cajal. For many years these cells were identified only by non-specific histological stains and later, more reliably, by electron microscopy. Ultrastructural features and the anatomical locations of ICC suggested important physiological roles for these cells. A breakthrough occurred in our ability to study ICC when it was recognized that antibodies for Kit could be used to identify ICC, even in living tissues. Signalling via Kit, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is also necessary for ICC development and maintenance of phenotype. Thus, blocking Kit, by a variety of techniques, caused loss of ICC in experimental animals and demonstrated the critical physiological functions of these cells in gastrointestinal motility. Loss of ICC in human gastrointestinal diseases may contribute to the motor pathologies observed. Unrestrained Kit signalling leads to the transformation of ICC and the development of gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Now ICC-like cells have been identified in a variety of smooth muscle tissues, and the race is on to discover whether these cells have equivalent or even novel functions in organs outside the gastrointestinal tract. This perspectives article gives a short overview of the history of ICC research and directions for future investigation.