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Query: UNIPROT:P10721 (c-kit)
 6,575 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In this study, we performed a detailed topographical study on the development of ganglion plexuses and the smooth muscle layers of human embryonic and fetal gut. Neuron and glia differentiation was investigated with anti-PGP9.5 and anti-S100 antibodies respectively. The differentiation of smooth muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) was studied with anti-smooth muscle alpha-actin and anti-C-Kit antibodies respectively. By week 7, rostro-caudal neural crest cell (NCC) colonization of the gut was complete, and NCCs have differentiated into neurons and glia. At the foregut, neurons and glia were aggregated into ganglion plexus in the myenteric region, and the longitudinal and circular muscle layers have started to differentiate; however, neurons and glia were not found in the submucosa. At the hindgut, neurons and glia were dispersed within the mesenchyme. Myenteric plexus, longitudinal and circular muscle layers formed along the entire gut by week 9. Scattered and individual neurons and glia, and small ganglion plexuses were detected in the foregut and midgut submucosa by week 12. Ganglion plexus was not seen in the hindgut submucosa until week 14. Muscularis mucosae was formed at the foregut and midgut by week 12 but was only discernible at the hindgut 2 weeks later. As the gut wall developed, ganglion plexus increased in size with more neurons and glia, and the formation of intra-plexus nerve fascicle. ICCs were localized in the ganglion plexus as early as week 7. ICCs were initially dispersed in the plexus and were preferentially localized at the periphery of the plexus by week 20. The specification of the annular layers of human embryonic and fetal gut follows a strict spatio-temporal pattern in a rostro-caudal and centripetal manner suggesting that interaction between (1) homotypic and/or heterotypic cells; and (2) cells and the extracellular matrix is critical for the embryonic development of the gut mesenchyme and the enteric nervous system.
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PMID:Embryonic development of the ganglion plexuses and the concentric layer structure of human gut: a topographical study. 1499 1

Progress in the treatment of human in-stent restenosis (ISR) is hampered by an imprecise understanding of the nature of the cells that occlude vascular stents. Recent studies suggest that circulating vascular progenitor cells may mediate vascular repair and lesion formation. Moreover, functional endothelial progenitor cells appear to play a protective role in attenuating vascular lesion formation. Hence, we sought to answer two important questions: 1). Are primitive cells found in ISR lesions? 2). Is the abundance of cultured angiogenic cells (CACs) in patients with ISR different from that in patients with non-ISR lesions or normal controls? Human coronary atherectomy tissue from 13 ISR, 6 postangioplasty restenosis (RS), and 14 primary (PR) atherosclerotic lesions, as well as 15 postmortem coronary artery cross sections from young individuals without atherosclerosis, were studied. All 13 ISR and 4 of 6 RS tissue specimens contained cells that immunolabeled for the primitive cell marker c-kit and smooth muscle alpha-actin, whereas the intima and media of PR lesions and normal arteries were devoid of c-kit-immunopositive cells. The abundance of peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived CACs was assessed in 10 patients with ISR, 6 patients with angiographically verified patent stents, and 6 individuals with no clinical evidence of coronary artery disease. CACs were less abundant in ISR patients than in non-ISR controls (13.9 +/- 3.1 vs. 22.3 +/- 6.7 cells/high-power field, P < 0.05), and both of these groups had fewer CACs than non-coronary artery disease patients (37.6 +/- 3.8, P < 0.05). These findings suggest a unique pathogenesis for ISR and RS lesions that involves c-kit-immunopositive smooth muscle cells. Moreover, the paucity of CACs in patients with ISR may contribute to the pathogenesis of ISR, perhaps because of attenuated reendothelialization.
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PMID:c-kit-immunopositive vascular progenitor cells populate human coronary in-stent restenosis but not primary atherosclerotic lesions. 1527 95

We show here (presumably for the first time) a special type of cell in the human and rat exocrine pancreas. These cells have phenotypic characteristics of the enteric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). To identify pancreatic interstitial cells of Cajal (pICC) we used routine light microscopy, non-conventional light microscopy (less than 1 mum semi-thin sections of Epon-embedded specimens cut by ultramicrotomy and stained with Toluidine blue), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunocytochemistry. The results showed that pICC can be recognized easily by light microscopy, particularly on semi-thin sections, as well as by TEM. Two-dimensional reconstructions from serial photos suggest a network-like spatial distribution of pICC. pICC represent 3.3+/-0.5% of all pancreatic cells, and seem to establish close spatial relationships with: capillaries (43%), acini (40%), stellate cells (14%), nerve fibres (3%). Most of pICC (88%) have 2 or 3 long processes (tens of mum) emerging from the cell body. TEM data show that pICC meet the criteria for positive diagnosis as ICC (e.g. numerous mitochondria, 8.7+/-0.8% of cytoplasm). Immunocytochemistry revealed that pICC are CD117/c-kit and CD34 positive. We found pICC positive (40-50%) for smooth muscle alpha-actin or S-100, and, occasionally, for CD68, NK1 neurokinin receptor and vimentin. The reactions for desmin and chromogranin A were negative in pICC. At present, only hypotheses and speculations can be formulated on the possible role of the pICC (e.g., juxtacrine and/or paracrine roles). In conclusion, the quite-established dogma: "ICC only in cavitary organs" is overpassed.
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PMID:Interstitial cells of Cajal in pancreas. 1620 21

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that interstitial cells might play a role in controlling and synchronizing via gap junctions the electrical activity of smooth muscle cells. The expression and distribution of interstitial cells in human penile erectile tissue was evaluated to determine whether or not cavernous interstitial cells express the gap junction protein connexin 43. Specimens of human corpus cavernosum were excised from full preparations of human penises. Cryostat sections (10 microm to 15 microm) of formaldehyde-fixated tissue segments were incubated using a double-labelling technique with antibodies directed against smooth muscle alpha-actin, c-kit, and connexin 43. Then, sections were exposed to secondary antibodies. Visualization was commenced by means of laser fluorescence microscopy. Double-staining techniques revealed immunosignals specific for c-kit (transmembrane receptor protein) and connexin 43 (gap junction protein) in multipolar cells located adjacent to smooth muscle cells. The number of c-kit-positive cells was significantly lower within the smooth musculature than within bundles of connective tissue surrounding smooth muscle cells of corpus cavernosum or cavernous arteries. Our findings demonstrate the distribution of c-kit- and connexin 43-positive interstitial cells in the connective tissue and smooth musculature of the corpus cavernosum. Additional studies are needed in order to evaluate further the ultrastructure of human penile erectile tissue and enable the identification of gap junctions mediating direct cell-to-cell communication.
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PMID:C-kit-positive multipolar cells in human penile erectile tissue: expression of connexin 43 and relation to trabecular smooth muscle cells. 2041 11