title: Multiple immunophenotypes of cardiac telocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Telocytes (TCs) form a 3-dimensional network in the myocardial interstitium, which most probably play important role(s) in heart development. However, the dynamics of their prolongations, continuous cell shape changes and adherence properties have not been well documented till recently. The aim of this study was to investigate dynamics of extension of prolongations (Telopods) and multiple phenotypes of cardiac TCs cultured in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac TCs were isolated from neonatal rats by a combined enzyme digestion process and identified by light microscopy, immunofluorescence analysis and scanning using electron microscopy (SEM). Their continuous changes in shape were analyzed by a Live Cell Imaging System and multiple phenotypes were identified by immunofluorescence analysis using various markers, like vimentin, c-kit, CD34, nanog and sca-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiac TCs displayed piriform/spindle/triangular shapes with long and slender telopodes showing extremely long prolongations. The morphology of cell body was continuously changing while their prolongations were extending gradually. After adhering to the surface, TCs' movement and extension of their prolongations lasted for approximately 1.5h. Cardiac TCs expressed mesenchymal cell marker vimentin, hematopoietic stem cell marker CD34, embryonic stem cell-associated gene of Nanog, and myocardial stem cell markers sca-1 and c-kit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that cultured TCs in vitro have multiple phenotypes, which are most likely important for evaluating their functional roles in heart development.
authors: Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, PR China; Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China.
authors: Yuqiao
authors: Y
authors: Chang
authors: Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China.
authors: Cixia
authors: C
authors: Li
authors: Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China.
authors: Zhaohui
authors: Z
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, PR China.
authors: He
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, PR China. Electronic address: gzk@xxmu.edu.cn.
authors: Zhikun
authors: Z
authors: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D000067696:Ataxin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D010641:Phenotype; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000067170:Telocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000067696:Ataxin-1; C000593751:Atxn1 protein, rat; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; C547030:Nanog protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014746:Vimentin; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
keywords: Cardiac telocytes; Differentiation; Immunophenotype; Live Cell Imaging System