Merkel cells in the human oesophagus

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus: clinical characteristics and prognostic evaluation of 49 cases with surgical resection

“…One possible reason is small cell carcinoma of esophagus was believed to originate from the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylase (APUD) cells of the esophagus, which commonly exist in the distal esophagus (16). Another possible reason is that esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma may be related to Merkel cells which was found to be more numerous in the middle esophageal region (17). The mixed esophageal NEC accounted for 22.4% of all esophageal NEC in our study, and all these mixed esophageal NEC was found to mix with squamous cell carcinoma , which may to some degree support the hypothesis raised by Huang (9) that esophageal NEC in Chinese may represent as an undifferentiated tumor in the spectrum of esophageal squamous neoplasm.…”

Merkel cells in the stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium of the human oesophagus

“…The average density of MCs in the oesophageal epithelium of all specimens was 5.7 cell per 1.12 cm (average length of the specimen), which is a higher number compared with data published by Schultz et al (2003). Harmse et al (1999) found in his study that four of five cases showed an evident increase in MCs num-Merkel cells in human oesophagus -they have a comparable immunoprofile -they are in a comparable location as single cells lying in the basal layers of the stratified epithelium -they have a comparable density -they both occur in fetal life -they both have long cytoplasmic dendrites, especially in fetal life Merkel cells are found in both types of squamous stratified epithelia, in keratinized (e.g., skin) and in nonkeratinized epithelia (e.g., oral mucosa, hard palate, oesophagus). In the oesophagus, many of these cells lack innervation and thus may functionally differ from innervated MCs in other locations, supporting the notion that MCs include heterogenous subpopulation which probably exert different functions (Moll et al 2005).…”

“…The regions richer in MCs are involved in tactile perception, emphasizing the presumed sensory receptor function of MCs. A further mucosal location in which MCs have been identified is the oesophagus (Harmse et al 1999). MCs also can be identified in the male prepuce and in the female clitoris (Cold & Taylor 1999).…”

Merkel Cells and Merkel Cell Carcinoma of Genitourinary System Tumor with Aggressive Behavior and Poor Prognosis

“…Mostly they are concentrated in the palms of hands, predominantly in the finger pads, also in the soles and toes than in any other parts of the body [7]. They are also present in the lips, hard palate, gingiva [4], oesophagus [8], and human eyelid [9]. Concentration of MCs in the external genitalia has not been studied, but Cold and Taylor [10] detected some MCs in the male prepuce and in the female clitoris.…”

“…(C) The non-innervated MCs in the fully developed skin may act to support normal keratinocyte differentiation [2] or normal actions of nervous structures [5,6]. The cell may also release substances to blood vessels [7] or cells of connective tissue [8]. CK-20 is specific, highly sensitive marker for MCC [positive in 89 to 100% of cases [35].…”