The potential role of telocytes in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

doi:10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.01.021

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology

Volume 55, July 2016, Pages 70-78

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.01.021 Get rights and content

Abstract

Research and ideas for potential applications in the field of Tissue Engineering (TE) and Regenerative Medicine (RM) have been constantly increasing over recent years, basically driven by the fundamental human dream of repairing and regenerating lost tissue and organ functions. The basic idea of TE is to combine cells with putative stem cell properties with extracellular matrix components, growth factors and supporting matrices to achieve independently growing tissue. As a side effect, in the past years, more insights have been gained into cell–cell interaction and how to manipulate cell behavior. However, to date the ideal cell source has still to be found. Apart from commonly known various stem cell sources, telocytes (TC) have recently attracted increasing attention because they might play a potential role for TE and RM. It becomes increasingly evident that TC provide a regenerative potential and act in cellular communication through their network-forming telopodes. While TE in vitro experiments can be the first step, the key for elucidating their regenerative role will be the investigation of the interaction of TC with the surrounding tissue. For later clinical applications further steps have to include an upscaling process of vascularization of engineered tissue. Arteriovenous loop models to vascularize such constructs provide an ideal platform for preclinical testing of future therapeutic concepts in RM. The following review article should give an overview of what is known so far about the potential role of TC in TE and RM.

Section snippets

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative Medicine (RM) is an interdisciplinary field of research and clinical application focused on the repair, replacement or regeneration of cells, tissues or organs to restore impaired function resulting from any cause, including congenital defects, disease, trauma and aging [1]. It uses a combination of several technological approaches that transforms it beyond traditional transplantation and replacement therapies. These approaches may include the use of soluble molecules, stem and

Basic Tissue Engineering concepts and techniques

Tissue Engineering may well be regarded as a truly interdisciplinary field that aims to overcome disadvantages of existing therapeutic concepts, by developing strategies for tissue replacement based on the combination of scaffolds, cells and growth factors. It therefore definitely represents an important research field due to the great demand for optimization of treatment strategies of tissue defects and the limited current treatment options for many diseases [8], [9] (Fig. 1).

Basically TE

New cell types for TE and RM: from Cajal-like cells to telocytes

Finally being described in 2010, telocytes (TC) were previously mentioned using the acronym ICLC (interstitial Cajal-like cells) [26]. However, TCs are not Cajal-like cells. They are different from the well-known Cajal cells of the intestine and considered as completely distinct in ultrastructure, immunophenotype, electrophysiology, gene profile and proteomics [26].

S. Ramon y Cajal discovered these cells more than 100 years ago in the muscle layer of the gut and called them “interstitial

Telocytes in various organs in TE and RM for clinical applications?

TC have to date been described in a broad range of tissues and organs. In the following section, we would like to point out some important findings and refer to the growing number of publications and reviews on TC to identify possible targets for RM. Often TC are described as assisting in the repair and restoration of tissue and organ function.

Telocytes and stem cells

Because regenerative potential is limited in humans, stem cell-based therapy remains a future hope for regeneration. To date, a broad range of methods and cells (embryonic stem cells; induced pluripotent stem cells; hematopoietic stem cells; multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells derived from blood, bone marrow, umbilical cord, and adipose tissue, etc.) (Fig. 6) have been investigated, but we are still waiting for the breakthrough in RM. There are recent publications indicating that TC and stem

Potential role of telocytes in Regenerative Medicine

Besides the use of an optimal tissue replacement matrix, cells are an integral part of Tissue Engineering approaches. Over the past few years, many cell populations have proved particularly promising for Tissue Engineering: MSC are multipotent undifferentiated cells that are located in various tissues of the body and maintain their differentiation potential during their entire lifespan. MSC are more frequently used in Tissue Engineering than tissue-specific cells due to the simple harvest and

Conclusions

According to the current literature and the huge number of hints of the regenerative potential of TC, at present there are great expectations for these cells by the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine community. Under the light of recent achievements of research in Regenerative Medicine, one might return to the myth of Prometheus and philosophize that not only the liver may carry the ability to renew, but also other vital organs like the heart. It is possible that further molecular and

Conflict of interest

All the authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interests with regard to this paper.

Acknowledgements

Our experimental studies are funded by the Staedtler Foundation, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg; the Office for Gender and Diversity, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg; the Forschungsstiftung Medizin Erlangen, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; the Novartis Foundation; the Else Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung; the Baxter Innovations GmbH, Vienna, Austria, Dr. Fritz-Erler Fonds and the Xue Hong and Hans Georg Geis Foundation.

We would like to thank Prof. Sanda Cretoiu and Prof.

References (101)

A. Meyer et al.
Results of combined vascular reconstruction and free flap transfer for limb salvage in patients with critical limb ischemia
J. Vasc. Surg.
(2015)
J.D. Huizinga et al.
Physiology, injury, and recovery of interstitial cells of Cajal: basic and clinical science
Gastroenterology
(2009)
E. Cocucci et al.
Shedding microvesicles: artefacts no more
Trends Cell Biol.
(2009)
L.M. Popescu et al.
Imatinib inhibits spontaneous rhythmic contractions of human uterus and intestine
Eur. J. Pharmacol.
(2006)
Y. Chang et al.
Multiple immunophenotypes of cardiac telocytes
Exp. Cell Res.
(2015)
J. Wang et al.
Global analyses of Chromosome 17 and 18 genes of lung telocytes compared with mesenchymal stem cells, fibroblasts, alveolar type II cells, airway epithelial cells, and lymphocytes
Biol. Direct
(2015)
C. Mason et al.
A brief definition of regenerative medicine
Regen. Med.
(2008)
A.S. Daar et al.
A proposed definition of regenerative medicine
J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med.
(2007)
N. Rosenthal
Prometheus’s vulture and the stem-cell promise
N. Engl. J. Med.
(2003)
E. Polykandriotis et al.
Regenerative medicine: then and now—an update of recent history into future possibilities
J. Cell. Mol. Med.
(2010)

E. Bell et al.

Living tissue formed in vitro and accepted as skin-equivalent tissue of full thickness

Science

(1981)

R. Langer et al.

Tissue engineering

Science

(1993)

O. Bleiziffer et al.

Endothelial progenitor cells are integrated in newly formed capillaries and alter adjacent fibrovascular tissue after subcutaneous implantation in a fibrin matrix

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2011)

R.E. Horch et al.

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine—where do we stand?

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2012)

J.P. Beier et al.

Avoidance of complications in oncological surgery of the pelvic region: combined oncosurgical and plastic reconstruction measures

Chirurg

(2015)

U.A. Stock et al.

Tissue engineering: current state and prospects

Annu. Rev. Med.

(2001)

A.M. Boos et al.

Bone tissue engineering for bone defect therapy

Handchir. Mikrochir. Plast. Chir.

(2010)

V.J. Schmidt et al.

Flow increase is decisive to initiate angiogenesis in veins exposed to altered hemodynamics

PLoS One

(2015)

A. Weigand et al.

Acceleration of vascularized bone tissue-engineered constructs in a large animal model combining intrinsic and extrinsic vascularization

Tissue Eng. Part A

(2015)

A. Arkudas et al.

Combination of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways significantly accelerates axial vascularization of bioartificial tissues

Plast. Reconstr. Surg.

(2012)

O.O. Erol et al.

New capillary bed formation with a surgically constructed arteriovenous fistula

Surg. Forum

(1979)

Y.T. Wilson et al.

Use of free interpositional vein grafts as pedicles for prefabrication of skin flaps

Microsurgery

(1994)

Q. Yuan et al.

PHDs inhibitor DMOG promotes the vascularization process in the AV loop by HIF-1a up-regulation and the preliminary discussion on its kinetics in rat

BMC Biotechnol.

(2014)

A.M. Boos et al.

Engineering axially vascularized bone in the sheep arteriovenous-loop model

J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med.

(2013)

J.P. Beier et al.

De novo generation of axially vascularized tissue in a large animal model

Microsurgery

(2009)

J.P. Beier et al.

Axial vascularization of a large volume calcium phosphate ceramic bone substitute in the sheep AV loop model

J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med.

(2010)

J.P. Beier et al.

De novo generation of an axially vascularized processed bovine cancellous-bone substitute in the sheep arteriovenous-loop model

Eur. Surg. Res.

(2011)

R.E. Horch et al.

Nutrient free flaps with vascular bypasses for extremity salvage in patients with chronic limb ischemia

J. Cardiovasc. Surg.

(2014)

R.E. Horch et al.

Successful human long-term application of in situ bone tissue engineering

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2014)

R.E. Horch et al.

A hundred patients with vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap for pelvic reconstruction after total pelvic exenteration

Int. J. Colorectal Dis.

(2014)

L.M. Popescu et al.

Telocytes—a case of serendipity: the winding way from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), via interstitial Cajal-Like cells (ICLC) to telocytes

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2010)

J.W. Haycock, S. Bro, Corpus striatum (Translation of S. Ramon y Cajal). Translated from Corps Strie chapter 23, in:...

M.S. Faussone Pellegrini et al.

Ultrastructure of the tunica muscularis of the cardial portion of the human esophagus and stomach, with special reference to the so-called Cajal’s interstitial cells

Ital. J. Anat. Embryol.

(1977)

L. Thuneberg

Interstitial cells of Cajal: intestinal pacemaker cells?

Adv. Anat. Embryol. Cell Biol.

(1982)

L.M. Popescu et al.

Interstitial cells of Cajal in pancreas

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2005)

L. Suciu et al.

Epicardium: interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) highlighted by immunofluorescence

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2009)

H. Hashitani et al.

Functions of ICC-like cells in the urinary tract and male genital organs

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2010)

M. Gherghiceanu et al.

Interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) in myocardial sleeves of human pulmonary veins

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2008)

K.D. McCloskey et al.

Kit-like immunopositive cells in sheep mesenteric lymphatic vessels

Cell Tissue Res.

(2002)

G. Hutchings et al.

Myometrial interstitial cells and the coordination of myometrial contractility

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2009)

S. Kostin et al.

A distinct type of cell in myocardium: interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLCs)

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2009)

L.M. Popescu et al.

Telocytes and putative stem cells in ageing human heart

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2015)

L.M. Popescu et al.

Cardiac renewing: interstitial Cajal-like cells nurse cardiomyocyte progenitors in epicardial stem cell niches

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2009)

L.M. Popescu et al.

The connective connection: interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and ICC-like cells establish synapses with immunoreactive cells electron microscope study in situ

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2005)

E.T. Fertig et al.

Extracellular vesicles release by cardiac telocytes: electron microscopy and electron tomography

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2014)

B. Zhao et al.

Cardiac telocytes were decreased during myocardial infarction and their therapeutic effects for ischaemic heart in rat

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2013)

B. Zhao et al.

Intramyocardial transplantation of cardiac telocytes decreases myocardial infarction and improves post-infarcted cardiac function in rats

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2014)

E. Mandache et al.

Telocytes in human isolated atrial amyloidosis: ultrastructural remodelling

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2010)

Y. Zheng et al.

Protein profiling of human lung telocytes and microvascular endothelial cells using iTRAQ quantitative proteomics

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

(2014)

Y. Zheng et al.

Telocyte morphologies and potential roles in diseases

J. Cell. Physiol.

(2012)

Cited by (29)

Telocytes in Cutaneous Biology: A Reappraisal
2023, Actas Dermo-Sifiliograficas
The telocytes (TCs) are novel interstitial cells that have been overlooked for a long time due to their histologic similarity to other stromal cells. TCs can be separated from the stromal cells based on their distinct immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular features. Functionally, TCs are involved in the tissue renewal, mechanical support, and immune modulation. These cells are also involved in the signal transduction either through their direct interactions with the neighboring cells or through the paracrine signaling via extracellular vesicles. TCs are damaged in several inflammatory and fibrotic conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, hepatic fibrosis, psoriasis, and systemic sclerosis. The transplantation of TCs in the damaged tissue can promote tissue regeneration. Therefore, enhancing tissue TCs either by their transplantation or by promoting their survival and growth using novel medications represents novel therapeutic strategy in the future. In this review, we addressed several aspects of TCs including their origin, distribution, morphologic features, and functions. We also discussed their involvement of the cutaneous TCs in the development various pathologic conditions.
Los telocitos (TC) son células intersticiales noveles que han sido subvaloradas durante mucho tiempo debido a su similitud histológica con otras células estromales. Los TC pueden separarse de las células estromales debido a sus distintas características inmunohistoquímicas, ultraestructurales y moleculares. A nivel funcional, los TC están implicados en la renovación tisular, el soporte mecánico y la modulación inmune. Dichas células están implicadas también en la transducción de señal, bien mediante sus interacciones directas con las células circundantes, o bien mediante la señalización paracrina, a través de las vesículas extracelulares. Los TC se ven dañados en ciertas situaciones inflamatorias y fibróticas tales como colitis ulcerosa, enfermedad de Crohn, fibrosis hepática, psoriasis y esclerosis sistémica. El trasplante de TC en el tejido dañado puede promover la regeneración tisular. Por tanto, mejorar los TC tisulares mediante trasplante o promoción de su supervivencia y crecimiento, utilizando medicaciones novedosas, representa una estrategia terapéutica innovadora para el futuro. En esta revisión abordamos diversos aspectos de los TC, incluyendo su origen, su distribución, sus características morfológicas y sus funciones. También tratamos la implicación de los TC cutáneos en el desarrollo de diversas situaciones patológicas.
Roles and distribution of telocytes in tissue organization in health and disease
2021, Tissue Barriers in Disease, Injury and Regeneration
Telocytes (TCs) are interstitial cells that distinguish themselves through their particular architecture, consisting of a relatively small cell body that emits remarkably long and narrow prolongations called telopodes (Tps). Previously known as interstitial Cajal-like cells, TCs manage to develop complex networks in almost all organs of the human body. Although staining positively for vimentin antibody, some uncertainty still persists over the mesenchymal origin of these cells. The election method for the precise detection of biological structures is focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, which ensures an accurate visualization of cellular architecture by providing sharper images of three-dimensional bodies, reaching nanoscale resolution. This approach has thus become the gold-standard for the identification of TCs. With the aid of currently available technology, TCs have been demonstrated to cover a wide range of functions that stretches from their role in electrical conduction and contractility adjustment to the coordination of tissue regeneration and angiogenesis. Because of their ability to form homo- and/or heterojunctions, TCs successfully provide resistant mechanical support. They exert their roles by ensuring intercellular signaling, either through direct cell–cell interaction or through juxtacrine and/or paracrine interactions aided by shedding bodies and exosomes delivered by Tps. The complex networks regulated by TCs have recently been proposed to form barriers between parenchymal compartments. This theory is supported by the abundant collagen fibrils that surround the Tps, thus strengthening their pivotal role in the establishment of tissue architecture. The numerous demonstrated and potential roles of TCs without a doubt require further investigation, especially because of their promising functions in regenerative medicine.
Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evidence for telocytes in the different physiological stages of the female rat mammary gland
2019, Life Sciences
Citation Excerpt :
These synapses occurred not only in the human breast [28] but also in the interstitial tissue of various organs [48]. Although, TCs are cells that capable of acting as integrators of many intercellular functions there is a long way ahead to elucidate their functional capabilities [38,39,43]. In conclusion, our study provides evidence for the presence of TCs in all stages of the gland; not only in the resting stage as proved by other studies, but with immune-labeling differences suggesting different structural and physiological roles of TCs according to the stage requirements.
Telocytes (TCs) are recently described to integrate a variety of different cells.
Aim of the work.
The aim was to investigate the presence of TCs in the rat mammary gland at its different physiological stages.
Twenty four adult female albino rats were classified into 4 groups: resting, mid-pregnancy, lactating, and involution groups. Inguinal mammary glands were processed for immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) examination.
TCs were immune-positive for c-kit and CD34 and showed significant differences in the different studied groups indicating variable roles at the different stages. TEM results characterized TCs by its shape and the long slender and moniliform telopodes linking the cells into stromal networks. The extracellular exosomes, homo-cellular synapsis and hetero-cellular synapsis were observed.
Our study provides evidence for the presence of TCs in all stages of the gland; not only in the resting stage as proved by other studies, but with immune-labeling differences suggesting different structural and physiological roles of TCs according to the stage requirements. These functions might via controlling the proliferation during pregnancy and lactation and the involution of the gland after weaning. Thus, more future functional studies of TCs will be important to help understanding the mechanism by which TCs contribute to tissue homeostasis concerning the role of the stromal/epithelial interactions in mammary gland biology and pathology including breast cancer which would be revolutionary for future therapeutic applications.
Telocytes in human fetal skeletal muscle interstitium during early myogenesis
2018, Acta Histochemica
Citation Excerpt :
Several functions have been proposed for TCs, including tissue structural support, homeostasis maintenance, intercellular signaling, cell differentiation, immune surveillance, stem/progenitor cell guiding and nursing (Bei et al., 2015; Díaz-Flores et al., 2016; El Maadawi, 2016; Marini et al., 2017a). In addition, TCs seem to be involved in a variety of pathologies and participate in tissue regeneration, making these cells particularly attractive in the field of regenerative medicine (Popescu et al., 2011; Bei et al., 2015; Boos et al., 2016; Díaz-Flores et al., 2016; El Maadawi, 2016; Ibba-Manneschi et al., 2016; Mirancea, 2016; Marini et al., 2017a). It has also been suggested an involvement of TCs in contractility mechanisms and intercellular electrical communication of excitable tissues (Edelstein and Smythies, 2014; Bei et al., 2015; Díaz-Flores et al., 2016).
A new peculiar stromal cell type called telocyte (TC)/CD34-positive stromal cell (i.e. cell with distinctive prolongations named telopodes) has recently been described in various tissues and organs, including the adult skeletal muscle interstitium of mammals. By forming a resident stromal three-dimensional network, TCs have been suggested to participate in different physiological processes within the skeletal muscle tissue, including homeostasis maintenance, intercellular signaling, tissue regeneration/repair and angiogenesis. Since a continuous interplay between the stromal compartment and skeletal muscle fibers seems to take place from organogenesis to aging, the present study was undertaken to investigate for the first time the presence of TCs in the human skeletal muscle during early myogenesis. In particular, we describe the morphological distribution of TCs in human fetal lower limb skeletal muscle during early stages of myogenesis (9–12 weeks of gestation). TCs were studied on tissue sections subjected to immunoperoxidase-based immunohistochemistry for CD34. Double immunofluorescence was further performed to unequivocally differentiate TCs (CD34-positive/CD31-negative) from vascular endothelial cells (CD34-positive/CD31-positive). Our findings provide evidence that stromal cells with typical morphological features and immunophenotype of TCs are present in the human skeletal muscle during early myogenesis, revealing differences in either CD34 immunopositivity or TC numbers among different gestation ages. Specifically, few TCs weakly positive for CD34 were found between 9 and 9.5 weeks. From 10 to 11.5 weeks, TCs were more numerous and strongly reactive and their telopodes formed a reticular network in close relationship with blood vessels and primary and secondary myotubes undergoing separation. On the contrary, a strong reduction in the number and immunopositivity of TCs was observed in fetal muscle sections from 12 weeks of gestation, where mature myotubes were evident. The muscle stroma showed parallel changes in amount, density and organization from 9 to 12 weeks. Moreover, blood vessels appeared particularly numerous between 10 and 11.5 weeks. Taken together, our findings suggest that TCs might play a fundamental role in the early myogenetic period, possibly guiding tissue organization and compartmentalization, as well as angiogenesis and maturation of myotubes.
Biosafety evaluation of poly(lactic acid)/nano-hydroxyapatite composite microspheres
2023, Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research
Role of Magnetic Nanomaterials in Biosafety and Bioregulation Facets
2023, Engineering Materials

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

ReviewThe potential role of telocytes in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

Section snippets

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Basic Tissue Engineering concepts and techniques

New cell types for TE and RM: from Cajal-like cells to telocytes

Telocytes in various organs in TE and RM for clinical applications?

Telocytes and stem cells

Potential role of telocytes in Regenerative Medicine

Conclusions

Conflict of interest

Acknowledgements

J. Vasc. Surg.

Gastroenterology

Trends Cell Biol.

Eur. J. Pharmacol.

Exp. Cell Res.

Biol. Direct

A brief definition of regenerative medicine

Regen. Med.

A proposed definition of regenerative medicine

J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med.

Prometheus’s vulture and the stem-cell promise

N. Engl. J. Med.

Regenerative medicine: then and now—an update of recent history into future possibilities

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

Living tissue formed in vitro and accepted as skin-equivalent tissue of full thickness

Science

Tissue engineering

Science

Endothelial progenitor cells are integrated in newly formed capillaries and alter adjacent fibrovascular tissue after subcutaneous implantation in a fibrin matrix

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine—where do we stand?

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

Avoidance of complications in oncological surgery of the pelvic region: combined oncosurgical and plastic reconstruction measures

Chirurg

Tissue engineering: current state and prospects

Annu. Rev. Med.

Bone tissue engineering for bone defect therapy

Handchir. Mikrochir. Plast. Chir.

Flow increase is decisive to initiate angiogenesis in veins exposed to altered hemodynamics

PLoS One

Acceleration of vascularized bone tissue-engineered constructs in a large animal model combining intrinsic and extrinsic vascularization

Tissue Eng. Part A

Combination of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways significantly accelerates axial vascularization of bioartificial tissues

Plast. Reconstr. Surg.

New capillary bed formation with a surgically constructed arteriovenous fistula

Surg. Forum

Use of free interpositional vein grafts as pedicles for prefabrication of skin flaps

Microsurgery

PHDs inhibitor DMOG promotes the vascularization process in the AV loop by HIF-1a up-regulation and the preliminary discussion on its kinetics in rat

BMC Biotechnol.

Engineering axially vascularized bone in the sheep arteriovenous-loop model

J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med.

De novo generation of axially vascularized tissue in a large animal model

Microsurgery

Axial vascularization of a large volume calcium phosphate ceramic bone substitute in the sheep AV loop model

J. Tissue Eng. Regen. Med.

De novo generation of an axially vascularized processed bovine cancellous-bone substitute in the sheep arteriovenous-loop model

Eur. Surg. Res.

Nutrient free flaps with vascular bypasses for extremity salvage in patients with chronic limb ischemia

J. Cardiovasc. Surg.

Successful human long-term application of in situ bone tissue engineering

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

A hundred patients with vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap for pelvic reconstruction after total pelvic exenteration

Int. J. Colorectal Dis.

Telocytes—a case of serendipity: the winding way from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), via interstitial Cajal-Like cells (ICLC) to telocytes

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

Ultrastructure of the tunica muscularis of the cardial portion of the human esophagus and stomach, with special reference to the so-called Cajal’s interstitial cells

Ital. J. Anat. Embryol.

Interstitial cells of Cajal: intestinal pacemaker cells?

Adv. Anat. Embryol. Cell Biol.

Interstitial cells of Cajal in pancreas

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

Epicardium: interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) highlighted by immunofluorescence

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

Functions of ICC-like cells in the urinary tract and male genital organs

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

Interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) in myocardial sleeves of human pulmonary veins

J. Cell. Mol. Med.

Review
The potential role of telocytes in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine