Open AccessTelocytes in human heart valves
Author(s) -
Yang Yang,
Sun Wei,
Wu Sean M.,
Xiao Junjie,
Kong Xiangqing
Publication year - 2014
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.12285
Subject(s) - endocardium , heart valve , tricuspid valve , aortic valve , interstitial cell , anatomy , mitral valve , cardiology , medicine , biology
Valve interstitial cells ( VIC s) are responsible for maintaining the structural integrity and dynamic behaviour of the valve. Telocytes ( TC s), a peculiar type of interstitial cells, have been recently identified by Popescu's group in epicardium, myocardium and endocardium (visit www.telocytes.com ). The presence of TC s has been identified in atria, ventricles and many other tissues and organ, but not yet in heart valves. We used transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence methods (double labelling for CD 34 and c‐kit, or vimentin, or PDGF Receptor‐β) to provide evidence for the existence of TC s in human heart valves, including mitral valve, tricuspid valve and aortic valve. TC s are found in both apex and base of heart valves, with a similar density of 27–28 cells/mm 2 in mitral valve, tricuspid valve and aortic valve. Since TC s are known for the participation in regeneration or repair biological processes, it remains to be determined how TC s contributes to the valve attempts to re‐establish normal structure and function following injury, especially a complex junction was found between TC s and a putative stem (progenitor) cell.