Telocytes contacts.pdfVIP

Seminars in Cell Developmental Biology 55 (2016) 3–8 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Seminars in Cell Developmental Biology journal homepage: /locate/semcdb Telocyte’s contacts Maria-Simonetta Faussone-Pellegrini a,?, Mihaela Gherghiceanu b a Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine. Research Unit of Histology and Embryology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy b Ultrastructural Pathology, ‘Victor Babes? ’ National Institute of Pathology,99-101 Spl. Independentei, 050096, Bucharest, Romania article info Article history: Received 15 January 2016 Accepted 24 January 2016 Available online 27 January 2016 Keywords: homocellular contacts heterocellular contacts interstitial cells mixed networks The telocytes (TC) abstract Telocytes (TC) are an interstitial cell type located in the connective tissue of many organs of humans and laboratory mammals. By means of homocellular contacts, TC build a scaffold whose meshes integrity and continuity are guaranteed by those contacts having a mechanical function; those contacts acting as sites of intercellular communication allow exchanging information and spreading signals. Heterocellular contacts between TC and a great variety of cell types give origin to mixed networks. TC, by means of all these types of contacts, their interaction with the extracellular matrix and their vicinity to nerve endings, are part of an integrated system playing tissue/organ-speci?c roles. ? 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents 1. The telocytes (TC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2. The TC networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .