Abstract
Telocytes (TCs) are a distinct type of interstitial cells characterized by a small cell body and extremely long and thin telopodes (Tps). The presence of TCs has been documented in many tissues and organs (go to http://www.telocytes.com). Functionally, TCs form a three-dimensional (3D) interstitial network by homocellular and heterocellular communication and are involved in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. As important interstitial cells to guide or nurse putative stem and progenitor cells in stem cell niches in a spectrum of tissues and organs, TCs contribute to tissue repair and regeneration. This review focuses on the latest progresses regarding TCs in the repair and regeneration of different tissues and organs, including heart, lung, skeletal muscle, skin, meninges and choroid plexus, eye, liver, uterus and urinary system. By targeting TCs alone or in tandem with stem cells, we might promote regeneration and prevent the evolution to irreversible tissue damage. Exploring pharmacological or non-pharmacological methods to enhance the growth of TCs would be a novel therapeutic strategy besides exogenous transplantation for many diseased disorders.
Highlights
Telocytes (TCs) are a distinct type of interstitial cells characterized by a small cell body and extremely long and thin telopodes (Tps)
Three-dimensional (3D) imaging of human cardiac TCs has recently been shown by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and 3D reconstruction of a human cardiac TC indicated a ribbon-like conformation for Tps and podoms were observed to be bulged from the podomer plane [9] (Fig. 3)
Electron microscopy showed that Tps were extended to neighbouring cells and interconnected by different kinds of junctions, which suggest that TCs potentially contribute to form a 3D interstitial network in skeletal muscle tissue
Summary
Telocytes (TCs) are a distinct type of interstitial cells characterized by a small cell body and extremely long and thin telopodes (Tps). Owing to their close relationship with stem cells and/or progenitor cells in multiple tissues such as heart, lung, skeletal muscle, skin, meninges and choroid plexus, eye and liver, TCs are supposed to potentially contribute to tissue repair/regeneration [32, 34, 35, 43, 54, 56, 59, 75,76,77,78].
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