Identification and functional response of interstitial Cajal-like cells from rat mesenteric artery

Abstract

Cells with irregular shapes, numerous long thin filaments, and morphological similarities to the gastrointestinal interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) have been observed in the wall of some blood vessels. These ICC-like cells (ICC-LCs) do not correspond to the other cell types present in the arterial wall: smooth muscle cells (SMCs), endothelial cells, fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, or pericytes. However, no clear physiological role has as yet been determined for ICC-LCs in the vascular wall. The aim of this study has been to identify and characterize the functional response of ICC-LCs in rat mesenteric arteries. We have observed ICC-LCs and identified them morphologically and histologically in three different environments: isolated artery, freshly dispersed cells, and primary-cultured cells from the arterial wall. Like ICCs but unlike SMCs, ICC-LCs are positively stained by methylene blue. Cells morphologically resembling methylene-blue-positive cells are also positive for the ICC and ICC-LC markers α-smooth muscle actin and desmin. Furthermore, the higher expression of vimentin in ICC-LCs compared with SMCs allows a clear discrimination between these two cell types. At the functional level, the differences observed in the variations of cytosolic free calcium concentration of freshly dispersed SMCs and ICC-LCs in response to a panel of vasoactive molecules show that ICC-LCs, unlike SMCs, do not respond to exogenous ATP and [Arginine](8)-vasopressin.

Cellular Expression Profile for Interstitial Cells of Cajal in Bladder - A Cell Often Misidentified as Myocyte or Myofibroblast

“…They now have a widely accepted role as a ‘pacemaker’ cell responsible for generating slow waves involved in peristalsis. ICC or ICC-like cells are now being described in many other muscular organs [7], [41], [53], [54], [55], but their functions in these systems are much less clear. The urinary bladder has been reported to possess ICC in several species, but there is some question as to whether they are universally expressed in mammals or have similar functions to their counterparts in the GI tract [22], [23], [24], [56].…”

The primary cilium of telocytes in the vasculature: electron microscope imaging

“…Cells with irregular bodies and numerous thin long processes, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) or interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLCs), have been described in the vasculature [13–14]: rat mesenteric artery [15], human pulmonary veins [16] and rabbit portal vein [17]. Not all the above cases, the ICCs were positive for c-kit.…”

“…In the vascular system, we characterize a cell population does not correspond to any of the other cell types present in the vessels wall: endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), fibroblasts, inflammatory cells, and pericytes. Cells with irregular bodies and numerous thin long processes, interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) or interstitial Cajallike cells (ICLCs), have been described in the vasculature [13][14]: rat mesenteric artery [15], human pulmonary veins [16] and rabbit portal vein [17]. Not all the above cases, the ICCs were positive for c-kit.…”

Intercellular calcium waves in primary cultured rat mesenteric smooth muscle cells are mediated by Connexin43

“…1799.1) in agreement with the law on animal protection in Switzerland. Explants from the mesenteric arcade were prepared as previously described in Formey et al (2011) and Halidi et al (2011) and cultured for 10–12 days. The purity of the primary cultured mesenteric artery smooth muscle cell cultures was verified by positive staining with smooth muscle specific alpha-actin and with desmin (data not shown).…”