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CD34‐positive interstitial cells of the human detrusor
Author(s) -
RASMUSSEN HELLE,
HANSEN ALASTAIR,
SMEDTS FRANK,
RUMESSEN JÜRI J.,
HORN THOMAS
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0643.2007.00759.x
Subject(s) - interstitial cell of cajal , interstitial cell , cd34 , cd117 , pathology , tryptase , transitional cell , immunoelectron microscopy , biology , cytoplasm , chemistry , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , stem cell , medicine , mast cell , immunology , bladder cancer , transitional cell carcinoma , genetics , cancer
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are well described in the bowel wall. They are c‐kit positive and play a role as pacemaker cells. Similar c‐kit‐positive cells have recently been described in the human bladder. The aim of this study was to characterize interstitial cells of the bladder detrusor using a panel of antibodies directed against CD117/c‐kit, CD34, CD31, S100, tryptase, neurofilament, NSE, Factor‐VIII and GFAP. A striking finding was an interstitial type of cell which is CD34 immunoreactive (CD34‐ir) but CD117/c‐kit negative. The cells have a tentacular morphology, enveloping and intermingling with individual muscle fasicles. Morphologically and immunohistochemically, they show no neurogenic, endothelial or mast cell differentiation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the presence of interstitial cells with a round‐to‐oval nucleus, sparse perinuclear cytoplasm and long flattened processes, ramifying primarily in a bipolar fashion. Using immunoelectron microscopy (I‐TEM) it was possible to view CD34 gold labelling of cells corresponding to interstitial cells. Although similar CD34‐positive cells have been demonstrated in the bowel wall, they have never been described in the detrusor. The ontogeny and function of CD34‐ir, a kit‐negative cell, is unknown, but it may be involved in smooth muscle contraction.