title: Interstitial cells of Cajal: a novel hypothesis for the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) affects a large proportion of the world's population, and accounts for a considerable number of visits to gastroenterologists and general practitioners. Despite its high prevalence, the precise mechanism of IBS has not been identified to date. The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) participate in the production of slow waves and the regulation of their propagation through the gastrointestinal system; thus, they are important components of gastrointestinal motility. The present review proposes that ICC play a central role in the pathophysiology of IBS. This hypothesis is based on many links between ICC and currently proposed mechanisms of IBS pathophysiology. It appears that ICC may be involved in almost all of the previously explained pathogenic mechanisms of IBS. If proven, this hypothesis may provide a key to solving the IBS mystery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran. eshraghiana@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eshraghian
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eshraghian
mesh_terms: D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000502:physiology*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D012701:Serotonin