Introduction to interstitial cells of Cajal

Hanani, Menachem

doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19991115)47:4<221::aid-jemt1>3.0.co;2-h

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Independent of Cajal’s research, Sir Arthur Keith (1914, 1915), the scientist who described the sino-atrial cardiac pacemaker and was apparently unaware of Cajal’s research, considered these cells to be a real pacemaker of the intestinal muscle layers [ 5 ]. The methods needed to prove or disprove these theories were not developed until 7–8 decades later, subsequently proving both to be essentially correct [ 1 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interstitial Cells of Cajal—Origin, Distribution and Relationship with Gastrointestinal Tumors

Radu¹,

Zurzu²,

Paic³

et al. 2022

Medicina

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The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) represent a particular network formed by some peculiar cells that were first described by the great neuroanatomist, S. Ramon y Cajal. Nowadays, the ICC have become a fascinating topic for scientists, arousing their curiosity; as a result, there is a vast number of published articles related to the ICC. Today, everybody widely accepts that the ICC represent the pacemaker of the gastrointestinal tract and are highly probable to be the origin cells for gastrointestinal tumors (GISTs). Recently, Cajal-like cells (ICLC) were described, which are found in different organs but with an as yet unknown physiological role that needs further study. New information regarding intestinal development indicates that the ICC (fibroblast-like and muscle-like) and intestinal muscle cells have the same common embryonic cells, thereby presenting the same cellular ultrastructure. Nowadays, there is a vast quantity of information that proves the connection of the ICC and GISTs. Both of them are known to present c-kit expression and the same ultrastructural cell features, which includes minimal myoid differentiation that is noticed in GISTs, therefore, supporting the hypothesis that GISTs are ICC-related tumors. In this review, we have tried to highlight the origin and distribution of Cajal interstitial cells based on their ultrastructural features as well as their relationship with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%