Open AccessCajal‐type cells from human mammary gland stroma: phenotype characteristics in cell culture
Author(s) -
Radu E.,
Regalia T.,
Ceafalan Laura,
Andrei F.,
Cretoiu D.,
Popescu L. M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005.tb00509.x
Subject(s) - interstitial cell of cajal , vimentin , biology , stroma , population , pathology , immunofluorescence , cd117 , staining , cell type , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , stromal cell , cell , immunology , stem cell , antibody , medicine , cancer research , genetics , environmental health , cd34
We report here the in vitro isolation of Cajal‐like interstitial cells from human inactive mammary‐gland Stroma. Primary cell cultures examined in phase‐contrast microscopy or after vital methylene‐blue staining revealed a cell population with characteristic morphological phenotype: fusiforms, triangular or polygonal cell body and the corresponding (very) long, slender, moniliform cytoplasmic processes. Giremsa staining pointed out the typical knobbed aspect of cell prolongations. Immunofluorescence (IF) showed, like in situ immunohistochemistry, that Cajal‐type cells in vitro (primary culltures), expressed c‐kit/CD117 and vimentin. In conclusion, the images presented here reinforce our previous hypothesis that human mammary glands have a distinct population of Cajal‐like cells in non‐epithelial tissue compartments.