title: Loss of interstitial cells of Cajal network in severe idiopathic gastroparesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of severe idiopathic gastroparesis in complete absence of Kit-positive gastric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Gastric tissue from a patient with severe idiopathic gastroparesis unresponsive to medical treatment and requiring surgery was analyzed by conventional histology and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gastric pacemaker cells expressing Kit receptor had completely disappeared while the local level of stem cell factor, the essential ligand for its development and maintenance, was increased. No signs of cell death were observed in the pacemaker region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a lack of Kit expression may lead to impaired functioning of ICC. Total gastrectomy proves to be curative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Gabrio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
authors.forename: Graziella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dughera
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiusa
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Repici
authors.forename: Pierroberto
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mioli
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Emanuelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001683:Biological Clocks; D005260:Female; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism*; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit