Structural and ultrastructural evidence for telocytes in prostate stroma

Abstract

The prostate comprises a glandular epithelium embedded within a fibromuscular stroma. The stroma is a complex arrangement of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components in addition to growth factors, regulatory molecules, remodelling enzymes, blood vessels, nerves and immune cells. The principal sources of ECM components are fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells (SMC), which synthesize the structural and regulatory components of the ECM. Telocytes (TCs) were recently described as a novel stromal cell type that exhibited characteristic features. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of TCs in prostate stromal tissue of gerbils, as the stromal compartment of this gland is a dynamic microenvironment. We used transmission electron microscopy (TEM), light microscopy and immunohistochemistry methods to provide morphological evidence for the presence of TCs. Cells that resembled TCs were observed in gerbil prostatic stroma. These cells had small cellular bodies with very thin and extremely long cellular processes. They were found primarily in the subepithelial area and also at the periphery of SMC layers. TCs also exhibited moniliform processes, caveolae and nuclei surrounded by small amounts of cytoplasm. Close contacts between TC podomers were evident, particularly in the adjacent epithelial compartment. This morphological evidence supported the presence of TCs in the gerbil prostatic stroma, which we report for the first time.

Telocytes play a key role in prostate tissue organisation during the gland morphogenesis

“…The interalveolar region contained predominantly CD34‐positive cells on P30, with the formation of networks that separate the clusters of alveoli from each other and separate clusters of alveoli from the periurethral smooth muscle, thus attributing to the exclusively CD34‐positive interstitial cells uniquely a role of ICCs progenitor cells is a limited proposition, in view of the evidence that these cells possess many other functions in the tissue organisation and functionality in various organs 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25. CD34‐positive telocytes that do not express c‐Kit may also perform a pacemaker function 48, 49 via c‐Kit‐independent pathways, such as the SK3 pathway, by inhibiting electrical activity.…”

“…Telepodes can be divided into dilated portions, podoms and fibrillar‐like sections called podomers 8, 9. Several functions of telocytes have been proposed, which vary from organ to organ, such as organisation of the stroma through modulation of intercellular communication 15, regeneration of cardiac muscle 10, immune response in the duodenum 11, contractility of the uterus 12 and in intercellular electrical communication 18, among others.…”

“…Telocytes may also exercise pacemaker function by means of the c‐Kit, but may also possess a supportive function for the contraction of periductal smooth muscle, possibly by means of c‐kit‐independent pathways, such as via the SK3 (small conductance calcium‐activated potassium Channel 3) pathway 20, 23. The function of telocytes varies between organs 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, and their role in the prostate remains elusive, in addition to lack of information regarding the development of these cells in prostate tissue.…”

New Description of Telocyte Sheaths in the Bovine Uterine Tube: An Immunohistochemical and Scanning Microscopic Study

“…Telocytes are closely related with pancreatic acinar cells ; Nico- and are located beneath prostate gland epithelium [Corradi et al, 2013], gastric and intestinal glands [Vannucchi et al, 2013], conjunctival epithelium, and pigmentary cells of the retina [Luesma et al, 2013]. Telopode-epithelial contacts were documented in the hen uterine tube [Gandahi et al, 2012].…”

Telocytes in ileum of the Chinese giant salamander: ultrastructural evidence

“…Many investigations have documented that TCs and their Tps are resident in various organs of many mammals, including human, pig, gerbil, mouse, rat and degus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Studies on TCs and Tps have also been reported in lower animals, such as newts, zebrafish and turtles 6, 7.…”