Interstitial cells of Cajal

The involvement of mast cells in host protection against nematode infection is well characterized in T. spiralis infection. W/Wv mice exhibited a significant delay in worm expulsion, and treatment with either anti-SCF or anti-SCF receptor monoclonal antibody dramatically inhibited mast cell responses and expulsion of T. spiralis for the duration of treatment (Donaldson et al., 1996). W/Wv mice also lack interstitial cells of cajal and intraepithelial y T cells (Maeda et al., 1992 Puddington et al., 1994), which may contribute to the impaired response in these animals (see below). However, supporting evidence of a role for mast cells in protection against T. spiralis comes from studies in which overexpression of IL-9 in mice (which is known to influence the mast cell responses see above) resulted in an extremely rapid mast cell-dependent expulsion of T. spiralis (Faulkner et al., 1997). 

Enteric Neuropathies. Different kinds of familial visceral neuropathies have been described the dominant type 1 [134], the recessive type 2 [135] and a recessive form with calcified basal ganglia [134], Furthermore, aganglionosis of the small bowel (Hirschsprung s disease) [136], hypergan-glionosis (neurofibromatosis) [137], neuronal intestinal dysplasia [138] and Parkinson s disease [139] are neuropathies to consider. The recognition of the pacemaker cells of the small bowel, the interstitial cells of Cajal, has prompted studies to detect abnormalities of these cells, another possible cause of pseudoobstruction [140],... 

Kenny SE, Vanderwinden JM, Rintala RJ, Connell MG, Lloyd DA, Vanderhaegen JJ, et al Delayed maturation of the interstitial cells of Cajal A new diagnosis for transient neonatal pseudoobstruction. Report of two cases. J Pediatr Surg 1998 33 94-98. 

Bolton I call interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) a type of smooth muscle. 

McKay, C.M. and Huizinga, J.D. (2006) Muscarinic regulation of ether-a-go-go-related gene K+ currents in interstitial cells of Cajal. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 319, 1112-1123. 

The gastrointestinal system of zebrafish presents clear differences from the human system. The zebrafish does not possess a stomach, the intestine is continuous with the pharynx through a short esophagus, and no sphincters are present [61]. However, zebrafish have most of the cell types observed in the small intestine -absorptive, endocrine, goblet, and interstitial cells of Cajal, although Paneth cells are absent. Gut contractions are under the control of the enteric nervous systems, which respond to different pharmaceuticals in similar way as the mammalian counterpart. For example, zebrafish embryos can be used as predictor of emetic response to pharmaceuticals, one of the most commonly reported clinical adverse effects to be considered in the development of new dmgs [61]. 

De Pont F, Giaroni C, Cosentino M et al 1996 Adrenergic mechanisms in the controi of gastrointestinal motility from basic science to clinical applications. Pharmacology and Therapeutics 69 59-78 Der-Silaphet T, Malysz J, Hagel S et al 1998 Interstitial cells of Cajal direct normal propulsive contractile activity in the mouse small intestine. Gastroenterology 114 724-736... 

It is noteworthy that NO has been implicated in both anti- and proapop-totic pathways depending on the cell type and conditions [22], At high concentrations, NO induces cell death during ischemic injury or as a consequence of neuro degenerative diseases. On the other hand, NO seems to be cytopro-tective in neuronal cell fines at lower concentrations. Recent findings showed that NO has a prosurvival effect on the interstitial cells of Cajal in the mouse stomach [23]. 

Akiba Y, Nakamura M, Ishii H (2001) Immunolocalization of vanilloid receptor-1 (VR-1) in CGRP-positive neurons and interstitial cells of Cajal in the myenteric plexus of the rat gastrointestinal tract. Gastroenterology 120 1721... 

Rumessen JJ, d Exaerde AD, Mignon S, Bernex F, Timmermans JP, Schiffmann SN, Panthier JJ, Vanderwinden JM (2001) Interstitial cells of Cajal in the striated musculature of the mouse esophagus. Cell Tissue Res 306 1-14... 

Although the previously mentioned markers are helpful in distinguishing between different germ cell tumors, they are not entirely specific. CD 117 or c-kit is a marker of interstitial cell of Cajal (and therefore stains gastrointestinal stromal tumors), mast cells, and melanocytes in addition to germ cells.CD30 (+ in embryonal carcinoma) is an activation marker, often seen in... 

Sircar K, Hewlett BR, Huizinga JD, et al. Interstitial cells of Cajal as precursors of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Am J Surg Pathol. 1999 23 377-389. 

Inhibitory neurons of the ENS release a variety of transmitters and cotransmitters, including nitric oxide (NO), ATP (acting on P2Y receptors), VIP, and pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) NO is a primary inhibitory transmitter. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) relay signals from the nerves to the smooth muscle cells to which they are electrically coupled. The ICC have receptors for both the inhibitory transmitter NO and the excitatory tachykinins. Disruption of the ICC impairs excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. 

Jun JY, Choi S, Yeum CH, Chang lY, You HJ, Park CK, Kim MY, Kong ID, Kim Ml, Lee KP, So I, Kim KW (2004) Substance P induces inward current and regulates pacemaker currents through tachykinin NKl receptor in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal of murine small intestine. Eur J Pharmacol 495 35 2... 

B- and T-lymphocyte precursors, endothelial cells, hepatic sinusoids, interstitial cells of Cajal, endometrial stroma, fibroblasts... 

Interstitial cells of Cajal, hematopoietic progenitor cells, melanocytes, germ cells, glial and Purkinje cells, endothelial cells, mast cells, renal tubular cells, ovarian stroma and corpus lutum... 

Control cycle is one depolarization and repolarization of the transmembrane voltage. Control wave (or slow wave) is the continuing rhythmic electrical activity recorded at any one site. It was assumed to be generated by the smooth muscle cells behaving like a relaxation oscillator at that site. However, recent evidence [Hara et al, 1986 Suzuki et al. 1986 Barajas-Lopez et al, 1989 Serio et al, 1991] indicates that it is generated by a system of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and smooth muscle cells at that site. ECA is the totality of the control waves recorded at one or several sites. Response Potentials (or spikes) are the rapid oscillations of transmembrane voltage in the depolarized state of smooth muscle cells. They are associated with muscular contraction and their occurrence is assumed to be in response to a control cycle when acetylcholine is present. ERA is the totality of the groups of response potentials at one or several sites. 

The structural relationships of nerve, muscle, and interstitial cells of Cajal in the canine corpus indicated a high density of gap junctions indicating very tight coupling between cells. Nerves in the corpus are not located close to circular muscle cells but are found exterior to the muscle bundles, whereas ICCs have gap junction contact with smooth muscle cells and are closely innervated [Daniel and Sakai, 1984). 

Barajas-Lopez, C., Berezin, 1., Daniel, E.E., and Huizinga, J.D. 1989. Pacemaker activity recorded in interstitial cells of Cajal of the gastrointestinal tract. Am. J. Physiol, 257 C830-C835. 

Berezin, I., Huizinga, J.D., and Daniel, E.E. 1988. Interstitial cells of Cajal in the canine colon a special communication network at the inner border of the circular muscle. J. Comp. Neurol 273 42-51. 

Daniel, E.E. 2004. Communication between interstitial cells of Cajal and gastrointestinal muscle. Neurogastroenterol. Motil, 16 118-122. 

Liu, L.W.C., Farraway, L.A., Berezin, I., and Huizinga, J.D. 1998. Interstitial cells of Cajal mediators of communication between longitudinal and circular muscle cells of canine colon. Cell Tissue Res., 294 69-79. 

Sanders, K.M. 1996. A case for interstitial cells of Cajal as pacemakers and mediators of neurotransmission in the gastrointestinal tract. Gastroenterology, 111 492 515. 

Sanders, K.M., Ordog, T., and Ward, S.M. 2002. Physiology and pathophysiology of the interstitial cells of Cajal From bench to bedside. IV. Genetic and animal models of GI motility disorders caused by loss of interstitial cells of Cajal. Am. J. Physiol Gastrointest. Liver Physiol, 282 G747 756. 

Thunberg, L. 1982. Interstitial cells of Cajal intestinal pacemaker cells. Adv. Anat. Emhryol. Cell. Biol, 71 1-130. 

Ward, S.M. and Sanders, K.M. 2001. Interstitial cells of Cajal Primary targets of enteric motor innervation. Anat. Rec., 262 125-135. 

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