http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fncel.2014.00032/full?
Lawrence Edelstein1* and John Smythies2
1Medimark Corporation, Del Mar, CA, USA
2Department of Psychology, Center for Brain and Cognition, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA
Introduction
In a recent review (Smythies and Edelstein, 2013b) we described the structure and function of a new form of interstitial cell found in most mammalian organs, the telocyte/cordocyte (T/C) co-discovered and ascribed accordingly by teams led by Laurentiu Popescu (Popescu et al., 2005; “telocytes”) and Viorel Pais (Danaila and Pais, 2011; Pais et al., 2012, 2013a,b; “cordocytes”). The problem of nomenclature is further complicated by the persistent use of an old name—“interstitial cells of Cajal” or ICCs (e.g., Padhi et al., 2013; Tanahashi et al., 2013). T/Cs make synaptic contacts of various kinds (including puncta adhaerens and gap junctions) with a broad variety of cells and tissue (including blood vessels, nerve fibers, fibroblasts, muscle cells, immune cells, and glandular cells, as well as other T/Cs). The present consensus is that T/Cs are capable of forming an extensive intercellular information transmission and executive system that may utilize electric currents, small molecules, exosomes—and possibly electrical events within the cytoskeleton—to modulate homeostasis, stem cell activity, tissue repair, peristalsis, anticancer activity, and other complex functions in many organs. We herein present a more comprehensive hypothesis of the molecular and cellular bases of the function of T/Cs with a focus on mechanisms for tissue repair.
The Facts
Recently published studies demonstrate that cordocytes (T/Cs) are highly dynamic cells capable of rapidly changing their shape, position, and connections (Danaila and Pais, 2011; Pais et al., 2012, 2013a). These workers also report them as being extensively distributed in the brain in relation to blood vessels, as well as the pia mater and choroid plexus. T/Cs have been shown to rapidly migrate to an injured area via the rapid growth of their long, sinuous processes. In many cases these processes envelop the damaged tissue, with a particular emphasis on repair and abating hemorrhages. As well, (Pais et al., 2013a,b) observed T/C processes closely enveloping tumor tissue in the brain, suggestive of some form of antitumor activity. The authors go on to say (Pais et al., 2013a):
“Under their strict surveillance all cellular movements are controlled, and under their efficient protection all vessels are surrounded by cordocytes, these cells primarily acting against erythrocyte extravasation [i.e., bleeding]… Cordocytes have a fundamental role in cooperation with stem cells for the generation of new cells during regeneration and repair events throughout the brain. These special interstitial cells coordinate and direct stem cells to damaged areas.”
Pais (2013) concludes “In the last instance, the brain performance improves if its microenvironment is maintained under appropriate conditions, for which cordocytes are responsible.”
Comments at the link.
Lawrence Edelstein1* and 
John Smythies2
John Smythies2- 1Medimark Corporation, Del Mar, CA, USA
- 2Department of Psychology, Center for Brain and Cognition, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA
Introduction
In a recent review (Smythies and Edelstein, 2013b)
we described the structure and function of a new form of interstitial
cell found in most mammalian organs, the telocyte/cordocyte (T/C)
co-discovered and ascribed accordingly by teams led by Laurentiu Popescu
(Popescu et al., 2005; “telocytes”) and Viorel Pais (Danaila and Pais, 2011; Pais et al., 2012, 2013a,b;
“cordocytes”). The problem of nomenclature is further complicated by
the persistent use of an old name—“interstitial cells of Cajal” or ICCs
(e.g., Padhi et al., 2013; Tanahashi et al., 2013).
T/Cs make synaptic contacts of various kinds (including puncta
adhaerens and gap junctions) with a broad variety of cells and tissue
(including blood vessels, nerve fibers, fibroblasts, muscle cells,
immune cells, and glandular cells, as well as other T/Cs). The present
consensus is that T/Cs are capable of forming an extensive intercellular
information transmission and executive system that may utilize electric
currents, small molecules, exosomes—and possibly electrical events
within the cytoskeleton—to modulate homeostasis, stem cell activity,
tissue repair, peristalsis, anticancer activity, and other complex
functions in many organs. We herein present a more comprehensive
hypothesis of the molecular and cellular bases of the function of T/Cs
with a focus on mechanisms for tissue repair.
The Facts
Recently published studies demonstrate that cordocytes
(T/Cs) are highly dynamic cells capable of rapidly changing their shape,
position, and connections (Danaila and Pais, 2011; Pais et al., 2012, 2013a).
These workers also report them as being extensively distributed in the
brain in relation to blood vessels, as well as the pia mater and choroid
plexus. T/Cs have been shown to rapidly migrate to an injured area via
the rapid growth of their long, sinuous processes. In many cases these
processes envelop the damaged tissue, with a particular emphasis on
repair and abating hemorrhages. As well, (Pais et al., 2013a,b)
observed T/C processes closely enveloping tumor tissue in the brain,
suggestive of some form of antitumor activity. The authors go on to say (Pais et al., 2013a):
“Under
their strict surveillance all cellular movements are controlled, and
under their efficient protection all vessels are surrounded by
cordocytes, these cells primarily acting against erythrocyte
extravasation [i.e., bleeding]… Cordocytes have a fundamental role in
cooperation with stem cells for the generation of new cells during
regeneration and repair events throughout the brain. These special
interstitial cells coordinate and direct stem cells to damaged areas.”
Pais (2013)
concludes “In the last instance, the brain performance improves if its
microenvironment is maintained under appropriate conditions, for which
cordocytes are responsible.”
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