Abstract
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) at the submuscular
border of the human colon (ICC-SMP) are the proposed
pacemaker cells of the musculature. In patients with
Crohn’s disease (CD) of the colon, ICC-SMP showed
characteristic cytological changes from controls. The
changes comprised secondary lysosomes in connection
with lipid droplets and cytoplasmic vacuoles or multiple
empty, confluent and often outbulging vacuoles merging
with cisterns of granular endoplasmic reticulum and
clusters of glycogen granules. These changes were most
pronounced in patients with macroscopical mucosal inflammation
but were also demonstrable in uninvolved colonic
segments. Relationships of ICC to other cells were
undisturbed. The changes were selective to ICC-SMP, as
glial cells, muscle cells and fibroblast-like cells at the
submuscular border showed no cytological alterations
compared with controls. Varicosities of the submuscular
plexus were often empty and dilated. Fibroblast-like cells
selectively encased macrophages and mast cells. The
cytological changes in ICC-SMP in CD are thus similar to
changes seen in ulcerative colitis and may be of pathophysiological
significance with regard to the motility and
sensory disturbances seen in patients with CD.
border of the human colon (ICC-SMP) are the proposed
pacemaker cells of the musculature. In patients with
Crohn’s disease (CD) of the colon, ICC-SMP showed
characteristic cytological changes from controls. The
changes comprised secondary lysosomes in connection
with lipid droplets and cytoplasmic vacuoles or multiple
empty, confluent and often outbulging vacuoles merging
with cisterns of granular endoplasmic reticulum and
clusters of glycogen granules. These changes were most
pronounced in patients with macroscopical mucosal inflammation
but were also demonstrable in uninvolved colonic
segments. Relationships of ICC to other cells were
undisturbed. The changes were selective to ICC-SMP, as
glial cells, muscle cells and fibroblast-like cells at the
submuscular border showed no cytological alterations
compared with controls. Varicosities of the submuscular
plexus were often empty and dilated. Fibroblast-like cells
selectively encased macrophages and mast cells. The
cytological changes in ICC-SMP in CD are thus similar to
changes seen in ulcerative colitis and may be of pathophysiological
significance with regard to the motility and
sensory disturbances seen in patients with CD.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Cell and Tissue Research |
| Vol/bind | 343 |
| Udgave nummer | 2 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 421-8 |
| Antal sider | 8 |
| ISSN | 0302-766X |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 1 feb. 2011 |