title: Precursor and interstitial Cajal cells in the human embryo liver.
abstract: Interstitial Cajal Cells (ICCs) were only proven in human adult hepatic tissue. The immune phenotypes of various cell types in the human embryonic liver (HEL) are scarcely described. It was hypothesized that in HEL ICCs are present and distinctive to the precursor/progenitor cells populations. It was aimed and performed a qualitative study of HEL by use of antibodies against CD117/c-kit, CD31, CD34, CD90, CD105, DOG1, Ki67, and adiponectin. Five human embryos of 23-29 mm were used. Blasts and hematopoietic cells were comprising the two major cell populations in late stage embryos. The general population of blasts in the HEL was CD34-/CD105, although scarce CD117/c-kit+ and CD90+ such cells were found. Hematopoietic precursors were Ki67+. Adiponectin-positive plasmalemmas were found mostly in blasts. Endothelia were CD31+/CD34+. Interstitial cells with moniliform prolongations were found; such cells were scarcely CD117/c-kit+ but consistently DOG1+. They were diagnosed as ICCs but based on the morphology of their prolongations they can be equally viewed as being telocytes (TCs). Further studies should better correlate the precursor cell-types and immune phenotypes during human liver organogenesis. Liver ICCs and/or TCs should be also investigated in the human fetal liver.
authors: Discipline of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; anatomon@gmail.com.
authors: Mugurel Constantin
authors: MC
authors: Rusu
authors: Irina
authors: I
authors: Dută
authors: Andreea Cristiana
authors: AC
authors: Didilescu
authors: Alexandra Diana
authors: AD
authors: Vrapciu
authors: Sorin
authors: S
authors: Hostiuc
authors: Emil
authors: E
authors: Anton
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000071063:Endoglin; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D038081:Organogenesis; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit