Abstract
Interstitial cells of cajal (ICC) are specialised cells located within the musculature of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Although they form only 5% of the cells in the musculature of the GIT, they play a critical role in regulating smooth muscle function and GIT motility in coordination with the enteric nervous system. C-kit is a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a critical role in ICC development and maturation. Physiological conditions such as ageing, as well as pathological conditions that have different disease processes, negatively affect ICC networks and function. Absent or disordered ICC networks can be associated with disorders in GIT motility. This review highlights the mechanism of ICC recovery from various types of injury which entails understanding the development of ICC and the factors affecting it. ICC transformation into malignant tumours (gastrointestinal stromal tumours) and their potential as contributors to therapeutic resistance is also discussed.
Highlights
Interstitial cells of cajal (ICC) are specialised cells located within the musculature of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT)
ICC associated with the myenteric plexus (ICC-MP), called ICC in the myenteric region (ICC-MY), or ICC associated with Auerbach’s plexus (ICC-AP), ICC-intramuscular, is an ICC network within the circular muscle (CM) and longitudinal muscle (LM) layers
Another probable mechanism for ICC loss in ageing is the increase in oxidative stress or an increased apoptosis combined with the inability of ICC stem cells (ICC-SC) to replenish the injured or lost ICC.[36,49] transformation of icc gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are common mesenchymal tumours in the GIT, accounting for 1% of all GI neoplasms
Summary
ICC are found in the GIT, from the oesophagus to the internal anal sphincter.[15]. This distribution varies in different organs within the GIT and in different species.[2]. ICC-septa (ICCSEP) are found in the septa separating the CM bundles and are described in humans and larger animals.[2,4,14,15] ICC-SEP are considered a part of the ICC-IM by some while others recognise them as a separate entity.[2,4,14,15] In general, ICC-MP are present at all levels of the GIT14,15 except in the oesophagus, where only ICC-IM are present.[14,15,16] ICC-IM and ICC-SMP are described as existing in the stomach, while ICC-MP, ICC-IM, and ICC-DMP are present in the small intestine.[2,10,15,17] ICC-MP, ICC-IM and ICC-SMP are generally identified in the colon.[2,10,15] Stellate subserosal ICC have been found outside the LM layer in the subserosa in mouse colons.[18]
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