Open AccessPrimary cilia in gastric Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GISTs): an ultrastructural study
Author(s) -
Castiella Tomás,
Muñoz Guillermo,
Luesma María José,
Santander Sonia,
Soriano Mario,
Junquera Concepción
Publication year - 2013
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/jcmm.12067
Subject(s) - interstitial cell of cajal , ultrastructure , pathology , biology , stromal cell , cilium , cytoplasm , mesenchymal stem cell , gastrointestinal tract , cell type , epithelioid cell , cell , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , cancer research , medicine , genetics , biochemistry
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours ( GIST s) are the most common mesenchymal (non‐epithelial) neoplasms of the human gastrointestinal ( GI ) tract. They are thought to derive from interstitial cells of Cajal ( ICC s) or an ICC progenitor based on immunophenotypical and ultrastructural similarities. Because ICC s show primary cilium, our hypothesis is based on the possibility that some of these neoplastic cells could also present it. To determine this, an exhaustive ultrastructural study has been developed on four gastric GIST s. Previous studies had demonstrated considerable variability in tumour cells with two dominating phenotypes, spindly and epithelioid. In addition to these two types, we have found another cell type reminiscent of adult ICC s with a voluminous nucleus surrounded by narrow perinuclear cytoplasm with long slender cytoplasmic processes. We have also noted the presence of small undifferentiated cells. In this study, we report for the first time the presence of primary cilia ( PC s) in spindle and epithelioid tumour cells, an ultrastructural feature we consider of special interest that has hitherto been ignored in the literature dealing with the ultrastructure of GIST s. We also point out the frequent occurrence of multivesicular bodies ( MVB s). The ultrastructural findings described in gastric GIST s in this study appear to be relevant considering the critical roles played by PC s and MVB s recently demonstrated in tumourigenic processes.