Telocytes: Ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and electrophysiological characteristics in human myometrium

Reproduction

Volumn 145, Issue 4, 2013, Pages 357-370

  Cretoiu, Sanda M ^a,b   Cretoiu, Dragos ^a,b   Marin, Adela ^c   Radu, Beatrice Mihaela ^c,d   Popescu, Laurentiu M ^a,b  

^a CAROL DAVILA UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND PHARMACY   (Romania)

^b VICTOR BABES NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY   (Romania)

^c UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST   (Romania)

^d UNIVERSITY OF VERONA   (Italy)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CALCIUM CHANNEL L TYPE; CD34 ANTIGEN; STEM CELL FACTOR RECEPTOR;

ARTICLE; CELL CULTURE; CELL ULTRASTRUCTURE; CONTROLLED STUDY; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY; EXOSOME; FEMALE; HUMAN; HUMAN CELL; HUMAN TISSUE; HYPERPOLARIZATION; IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE; IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY; LEYDIG CELL; MACROMOLECULE; MUSCLE CELL; MYOMETRIUM; PATCH CLAMP; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SMOOTH MUSCLE FIBER; TELOCYTE; THICKNESS; TIME-LAPSE VIDEO MICROSCOPY; VOLTAGE CLAMP; WHOLE CELL;

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA; FEMALE; HUMANS; IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY; MYOMETRIUM; PREGNANCY;

EID: 84877300233     PISSN: 14701626     EISSN: 17417899     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1530/REP-12-0369     Document Type: Article

References (96)

1. Allix S, Reyes-Gomez E, Aubin-Houzelstein G, Noël D, Tiret L, Panthier JJ & Bernex F 2008 Uterine contractions depend on KIT-positive interstitial cells in the mouse: genetic and pharmacological evidence. Biology of Reproduction 79 510-517. (doi:10.1095/biolreprod.107.066373)
2. Ardeleanu C & Bussolati G 2011 Telocytes are the common cell of origin of both PEComas and GISTs: an evidence-supported hypothesis. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 2569-2574. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011. 01461.x)
3. Bani D, Formigli L, Gherghiceanu M & Faussone-Pellegrini MS 2010 Telocytes as supporting cells for myocardial tissue organization in developing and adult heart. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 2531-2538. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01119.x)
4. Barile L & Lionetti V 2012 Prometheus's heart: what lies beneath. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 228-236. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934. 2011.01487.x)
5. Bigsby RM 2002 Control of growth and differentiation of the endometrium: the role of tissue interactions. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 955 110-117. (doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02771.x)
6. Bojin FM, Gavriliuc OI, Cristea MI, Tanasie G, Tatu CS, Panaitescu C & Paunescu V 2011 Telocytes within human skeletal muscle stem cell niche. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 2269-2272. (doi:10.1111/j.1582- 4934.2011.01386.x)
7. Cantarero I, Luesma MJ & Junquera C 2011 The primary cilium of telocytes in the vasculature: electron microscope imaging. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 2594-2600. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011. 01312.x)
8. Cantarero Carmona I, Luesma Bartolomé MJ & Junquera Escribano C 2011 Identification of telocytes in the lamina propria of rat duodenum: transmission electron microscopy. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 26-30. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01207.x)
9. Ceafalan L, Gherghiceanu M, Popescu LM & Simionescu O 2012 Telocytes in human skin - are they involved in skin regeneration? Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 1405-1420. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01580.x)
10. Ciontea SM, Radu E, Regalia T, Ceafalan L, Cretoiu D, Gherghiceanu M, Braga RI, Malincenco M, Zagrean L, Hinescu ME et al. 2005 c-kit immunopositive interstitial cells (Cajal-type) in human myometrium. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 9 407-420. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005.tb00366.x)
11. Cismasiu VB, Radu E & Popescu LM 2011 miR-193 expression differentiates telocytes from other stromal cells. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 1071-1074. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01325.x)
12. Cozzi E, Ackerman KG, Lundequist A, Drazen JM, Boyce JA & Beier DR 2011 The naive airway hyperresponsiveness of the A/J mouse is Kitmediated. PNAS 108 12787-12792. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1106582108)
13. Cretoiu D, Ciontea SM, Popescu LM, Ceafalan L & Ardeleanu C 2006 Interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) as steroid hormone sensors in human myometrium: immunocytochemical approach. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 10 789-795. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2006.tb00438.x)
14. Cretoiu SM, Simionescu AA, Caravia L, Curici A, Cretoiu D & Popescu LM 2011 Complex effects of imatinib on spontaneous and oxytocin-induced contractions in human non-pregnant myometrium. Acta Physiologica Hungarica 98 329-338. (doi:10.1556/APhysiol.98.2011.3.10)
15. Cretoiu SM, Cretoiu D, Simionescu AA & Popescu LM 2012a Telocytes in human fallopian tube and uterus express estrogen and progesterone receptors. In Sex Steroids. pp. 91-114. Ed SM Kahn. Rijeka: Intech. ISBN 978-953-307-857-1.
16. Cretoiu D, Cretoiu SM, Simionescu AA & Popescu LM 2012b Telocytes, a distinct type of cell among the stromal cells present in the lamina propria of jejunum. Histology and Histopathology 27 1067-1078.
17. Cretoiu SM, Cretoiu D & Popescu LM 2012c Human myometrium - the ultrastructural 3D network of telocytes. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 2844-2849. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012. 01651.x)
18. Cunha GR, Cooke PS & Kurita T 2004 Role of stromal-epithelia interactions in hormonal responses. Archives of Histology and Cytology 67 417-434. (doi:10.1679/aohc.67.417)
19. Díaz-Flores L, Gutiérrez R, Sáez FJ, Díaz-Flores L Jr & Madrid JF 2013 Telocytes in neuromuscular spindles. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 17. (doi:10.1111/jcmm. 12015)
20. Duquette RA, Shmygol A, Vaillant C, Mobasheri A, Pope M, Burdyga T & Wray S 2005 Vimentin-positive, c-kit-negative interstitial cells in human and rat uterus: a role in pacemaking? Biology of Reproduction 72 276-283. (doi:10.1095/biolreprod.104.033506)
21. El-Bassouny DR 2012 Ultrastructural study of the adult albino rat parotid gland with special reference to the role of stromal telocytes. Egyptian Journal of Histology 35 761-772. (doi:10.1097/01.EHX.0000421520. 41159.03)
22. Faussone-Pellegrini MS 2009 Interplay among enteric neurons, interstitial cells of Cajal, resident and not resident connective tissue cells. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 13 1191-1192. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009. 00814.x)
23. Faussone-Pellegrini MS & Bani D 2010 Relationships between telocytes and cardiomyocytes during pre- and post-natal life. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 1061-1063. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010. 01074.x)
24. Faussone-Pellegrini MS & Popescu LM 2011 Telocytes. Biomolecular Concepts 2 481-489.
25. Gálvez BG, Martín NS, Salama-Cohen P, Lazcano JJ, Coronado MJ, Lamelas ML, Alvarez-Barrientes A, Eiró N, Vizoso F & Rodríguez C 2010 An adult myometrial pluripotential precursor that promotes healing of damaged muscular tissues. In Vivo 24 431-441.
26. Gevaert T, De Vos R, Everaerts W, Libbrecht L, Van Der Aa F, van den Oord J, Roskams T & De Ridder D 2011 Characterization of upper lamina propria interstitial cells in bladders from patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity and bladder pain syndrome. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 2586-2593. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011. 01262.x)
27. Gevaert T, De Vos R, Van Der Aa F, Joniau S, van den Oord J, Roskams T & De Ridder D 2012 Identification of telocytes in the upper lamina propria of the human urinary tract. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 2085-2093. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01504.x)
28. Gherghiceanu M & Popescu LM 2010 Cardiomyocyte precursors and telocytes in epicardial stem cell niche: electron microscope images. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 871-877. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01060. x)
29. Gherghiceanu M & Popescu LM 2011 Heterocellular communication in the heart: electron tomography of telocyte-myocyte junctions. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 1005-1011. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01299.x)
30. Gherghiceanu M & Popescu LM 2012 Cardiac telocytes their junctions and functional implications. Cell and Tissue Research 348 265-279. (doi:10.1007/s00441-012-1333-8)
31. Gherghiceanu M, Manole CG & Popescu LM 2010 Telocytes in endocardium: electron microscope evidence. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 2330-2334. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01133.x)
32. Gravina FS, Parkington HC, Kerr KP, de Oliveira RB, Jobling P, Coleman HA, Sandow SL, Davies MM, Imtiaz MS & van Helden DF 2010 Role of mitochondria in contraction and pacemaking in the mouse uterus. British Journal of Pharmacology 161 1375-1390. (doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.00949.x)
33. Hamilton S, Oomomian Y, Stephen G, Shynlova O, Tower CL, Garrod A, Lye SJ & Jones RL 2012 Macrophages infiltrate the human and rat decidua during term and preterm labor: evidence that decidual inflammation precedes labor. Biology of Reproduction 86 39. (doi:10.1095/biolreprod. 111.095505)
34. i changes in interstitial cells of Cajal from rabbit portal vein. Cell Calcium 40 287-298. (doi:10.1016/j.ceca.2006.04.018)
35. Hatta K, Huang ML, Weisel RD & Li RK 2012 Culture of rat endometrial telocytes. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 1392-1396. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01583.x)
36. Hinescu ME, Ardeleanu C, Gherghiceanu M & Popescu LM 2007 Interstitial Cajal-like cells in human gallbladder. Journal of Molecular Histology 38 275-284. (doi:10.1007/s10735-007-9099-0)
37. Hinescu ME, Popescu LM, Gherghiceanu M & Faussone-Pellegrini MS 2008 Interstitial Cajal-like cells in rat mesentery: an ultrastructural and immunohistochemical approach. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 12 260-270. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2008. 00226.x)
38. Hinescu ME, Gherghiceanu M, Suciu L & Popescu LM 2011 Telocytes in pleura: two- and three-dimensional imaging by transmission electron microscopy. Cell and Tissue Research 343 389-397. (doi:10.1007/s00441-010-1095-0)
39. Horch RE, Kneser U, Polykandriotis E, Schmidt VJ, Sun J & Arkudas A 2012 Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine - where do we stand? Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 1157-1165. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012. 01564.x)
40. Horn LC, Meinel A & Hentschel B 2012 c-kit/CD 117 positive cells in the myometrium of pregnant women and those with uterine endometriosis. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 286 105-107. (doi:10.1007/s00404-012-2220-y)
41. Huang X, Zhao D, Wang ZY, Zhang ML, Yan ZQ, Han YF, Xu WX & Jiang ZL 2010 The properties of spontaneous transient inward currents of interstitial cells in rabbit portal vein. European Journal of Pharmacology 643 63-69. (doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.06.011)
42. Hutchings G, Williams O, Cretoiu D & Ciontea SM 2009 Myometrial interstitial cells and the coordination of myometrial contractility. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 13 4268-4282. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2009. 00894.x)
43. Jun CR, Lee JY & Cho HH 2012 Muscle-derived stem cells and smooth muscle healing in a rat model of uterine injury. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 116 265-266. (doi:10.1016/j.ijgo. 2011.10.013)
44. Keski-Nisula LT, Aalto ML, Kirkinen PP, Kosma VM & Heinonen ST 2003 Myometrial inflammation in human delivery and its association with labor and infection. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 120 217-224. (doi:10.1309/KC6KDTX98LFYB3J7)
45. + current in freshly isolated c-Kit positive cells in guinea-pig stomach. Journal of Korean Medical Science 24 384-391. (doi:10.3346/jkms. 2009.24.3.384)
46. Kim BJ, Nam JH & Kim SJ 2011 Effects of transient receptor potential channel blockers on pacemaker activity in interstitial cells of Cajal from mouse small intestine. Molecules and Cells 32 153-160. (doi:10.1007/s10059-011-1019- 1)
47. Koh S, Koh B, Roy R, Hollywood M, Thornbury K, McHale N, Sergeant G, Hatton W, Ward S & Sanders K 2012 PDGFRα cells in mouse urinary bladder: a new class of interstitial cells. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 691-700. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01506.x)
48. Kostin S 2010 Myocardial telocytes: a specific new cellular entity. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 1917-1921. (doi:10.1111/j.1582- 4934.2010.01111.x)
49. Laflamme MA & Murry CE 2011 Heart regeneration. Nature 473 326-335. (doi:10.1038/nature10147)
50. Lee H, Koh BH, Peri LE, Sanders KM & Koh SD 2012 Functional expression of SK channels in murine detrusor PDGFRαC cells. Journal of Physiology 591 503-513. (doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2012.241505)
51. Liehn EA, Postea O, Curaj A & Marx N 2011 Repair after myocardial infarction, between fantasy and reality: the role of chemokines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 58 2357-2362. (doi:10.1016/j.jacc. 2011.08.034)
52. Mandache E, Gherghiceanu M, Macarie C, Kostin S & Popescu LM 2010 Telocytes in human isolated atrial amyloidosis: ultrastructural remodelling. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 2739-2747. (doi:10.1111/j.1582- 4934.2010.01200.x)
53. Manole CG, Cismasiu V, Gherghiceanu M & Popescu LM 2011 Experimental acute myocardial infarction: telocytes involvement in neo-angiogenesis. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 2284-2296. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011. 01449.x)
54. Nicolescu MI & Popescu LM 2012 Telocytes in the interstitium of human exocrine pancreas: ultrastructural evidence. Pancreas 41 949-956. (doi:10.1097/MPA.0b013e31823fbded)
55. Nicolescu MI, Bucur A, Dinca O, Rusu MC & Popescu LM 2012 Telocytes in parotid glands. Anatomical Record 295 378-385. (doi:10.1002/ar.21540)
56. Osman I, Young A, Ledingham MA, Thomson AJ, Jordan F, Greer IA & Norman JE 2003 Leukocyte density and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in human fetal membranes, decidua, cervix and myometrium before and during labor at term. Molecular Human Reproduction 9 41-45. (doi:10.1093/molehr/gag001)
57. Padhi S, Sarangi R & Mallick S 2013 Pancreatic extragastrointestinal stromal tumors, interstitial Cajal like cells, and telocytes. Journal of the Pancreas 14 1-14. (doi:10.6092/1590-8577/1293)
58. Parsons SP & Huizinga JD 2010 Transient outward potassium current in ICC. American Journal of Physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 298 G456-G466. (doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00340.2009)
59. Pieri L, Vannucchi MG & Faussone-Pellegrini MS 2008 Histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of an interstitial cell type different from ICCs and resident in the muscle coat of human gut. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 12 1944-1955. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934. 2008.00461.x)
60. Popescu LM & Faussone-Pellegrini MS 2010 TELOCYTES - a case of serendipity: the winding way from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), via interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLC) to TELOCYTES. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 729-740. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010. 01059.x)
61. Popescu LM & Nicolescu MI 2013 Telocytes and stem cells. In Resident Stem Cells and Regenerative Therapy, pp 205-231. Eds RC dos Santos Goldenberg & AC Campos de Carvalho. Oxford: Academic Press.
62. Popescu LM, Ciontea SM, Cretoiu D, Hinescu ME, Radu E, Ionescu N, Ceausu M, Gherghiceanu M, Braga RI, Vasilescu F et al. 2005a Novel type of interstitial cell (Cajal-like) in human fallopian tube. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 9 479-523. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934. 2005.tb00376.x)
63. Popescu LM, Gherghiceanu M, Cretoiu D & Radu E 2005b The connective connection: interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and ICC-like cells establish synapses with immunoreactive cells. Electron microscope study in situ. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 9 714-730. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005. tb00502.x)
64. Popescu LM, Vidulescu C, Curici A, Caravia L, Simionescu AA, Ciontea SM & Simion S 2006 Imatinib inhibits spontaneous rhythmic contractions of human uterus and intestine. European Journal of Pharmacology 546 177-181. (doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.06.068)
65. Popescu LM, Ciontea SM & Cretoiu D 2007 Interstitial Cajal-like cells in human uterus and fallopian tube. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1101 139-165. (doi:10.1196/annals.1389.022)
66. Popescu LM, Manole CG, Gherghiceanu M, Ardelean A, Nicolescu MI, Hinescu ME & Kostin S 2010 Telocytes in human epicardium. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 2085-2093. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01129.x)
67. Popescu LM, Gherghiceanu M, Suciu LC, Manole CG & Hinescu ME 2011a Telocytes and putative stem cells in the lungs: electron microscopy, electron tomography and laser scanning microscopy. Cell and Tissue Research 345 391-403. (doi:10.1007/s00441-011-1229-z)
68. Popescu LM, Manole E, Serboiu CS, Manole CG, Suciu LC, Gherghiceanu M & Popescu BO 2011b Identification of telocytes in skeletal muscle interstitium: implication for muscle regeneration. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 1379-1392. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01330.x)
69. Qi G, Lin M, Xu M, Manole CG, Wang X & Zhu T 2012 Telocytes in the human kidney cortex. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 3116-3122. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01582.x)
70. Ramachandran S & Palanisamy V 2012 Horizontal transfer of RNAs: exosomes as mediators of intercellular communication. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. RNA 3 286-293. (doi:10.1002/wrna.115)
71. Rosenbaum ST, Svalø J, Nielsen K, Larsen T, Jørgensen JC & Bouchelouche P 2012 Immunolocalization and expression of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels in human myometrium. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 3001-3008. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01627.x)
72. Rusu MC, Pop F, Hostiuc S, Curca GC & Streinu-Cercel A 2011 Extrahepatic and intrahepatic human portal interstitial Cajal cells. Anatomical Record 294 1382-1392. (doi:10.1002/ar.21441)
73. Rusu MC, Jianu AM, Mirancea N, Didilescu AC, Manoiu VS & Paduraru D 2012a Tracheal telocytes. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 401-405. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01465.x)
74. Rusu MC, Mirancea N, Mǎnoiu VS, Vâlcu M, Nicolescu MI & Pǎduraru D 2012b Skin telocytes. Annals of Anatomy 194 359-367. (doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2011.11.007)
75. Rusu MC, Pop F, Hostiuc S, Curca GC & Paduraru D 2012c Telocytes form networks in normal cardiac tissues. Histology and Histopathology 27 807-816.
76. Rusu MC, Nicolescu MI, Jianu AM, Lighezan R, Mǎnoiu VS & Pǎduraru D 2012d Esophageal telocytes and hybrid morphologies. Cell Biology International 36 1079-1088. (doi:10.1042/CBI20120007)
77. Shynlova O, Tsui P, Dorogin A & Lye SJ 2008 Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL-2) integrates mechanical and endocrine signals that mediate term and preterm labor. Journal of Immunology 181 1470-1479.
78. Shynlova O, Tsui P, Jaffer S & Lye SJ 2009 Integration of endocrine and mechanical signals in the regulation of myometrial functions during pregnancy and labour. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology 144 S2-S10. (doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2009. 02.044)
79. Shynlova O, Kwong R & Lye SJ 2010 Mechanical stretch regulates hypertrophic phenotype of the myometrium during pregnancy. Reproduction 139 247-253. (doi:10.1530/REP-09-0260)
80. Si X, Huang L, Gong Y, Lu J & Lin L 2012 Role of calcium in activation of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels caused by cholecystokinin octapeptide in interstitial cells of Cajal. Digestion 85 266-275. (doi:10.1159/000337077)
81. Suciu L, Nicolescu MI & Popescu LM 2010a Cardiac telocytes: serial dynamic images in cell culture. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 14 2687-2692. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01185.x)
82. Suciu L, Popescu LM, Gherghiceanu M, Regalia T, Nicolescu MI, Hinescu E & Faussone-Pellegrini MS 2010b Telocytes in human term placenta: morphology and phenotype. Cells, Tissues, Organs 192 325-339. (doi:10.1159/000319467)
83. Suciu LC, Popescu BO, Kostin S & Popescu LM 2012 Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β-positive telocytes in skeletal muscle interstitium. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 16 701-707. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01505.x)
84. Taggart MJ, Arthur P, Zielnik B & Mitchell BF 2012 Molecular pathways regulating contractility in rat uterus through late gestation and parturition. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 207 76e15-76e24. (doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2012.04.036)
85. Takaki M, Suzuki H & Nakayama S 2010 Recent advances in studies of spontaneous activity in smooth muscle: ubiquitous pacemaker cells. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology 102 129-135. (doi:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2010.05. 007)
86. Thomson AJ, Telfer JF, Young A, Campbell S, Stewart CJ, Cameron IT, Greer IA & Norman JE 1999 Leukocytes infiltrate the myometrium during human parturition: further evidence that labour is an inflammatory process. Human Reproduction 14 229-236. (doi:10.1093/humrep/14.1.229)
87. Xiao J, Liang D & Chen YH 2011 The genetics of atrial fibrillation: from the bench to the bedside. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics 12 73-96. (doi:10.1146/annurev-genom-082410-101515)
88. Young RC & Bemis A 2009 Calcium-activated chloride currents prolongs the duration of contractions in pregnant rat myometrial tissue. Reproductive Sciences 16 734-739. (doi:10.1177/1933719 109334965)
89. Zheng Y, Li H, Manole CG, Sun A, Ge J & Wang X 2011 Telocytes in trachea and lungs. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 2262-2268. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01404.x)
90. Zheng Y, Bai C & Wang X 2012a Telocyte morphologies and potential roles in diseases. Journal of Cellular Physiology 227 2311-2317. (doi:10.1002/jcp.23022)
91. Zheng Y, Bai C & Wang X 2012b Potential significance of telocytes in the pathogenesis of lung diseases. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine 6 45-49. (doi:10.1586/ers.11.91)
92. Zheng Y, Zhu T, Lin M, Wu D & Wang X 2012c Telocytes in the urinary system. Journal of Translational Medicine 10 188. (doi:10.1186/1479-5876-10-188)
93. Zhou B & Pu WT 2011 Epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in injured heart. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 15 2781-2783. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01450.x)
94. Zhou J, Zhang Y, Wen X, Cao J, Li D, Lin Q, Wang H, Liu Z, Duan C, Wu K et al. 2010 Telocytes accompanying cardiomyocyte in primary culture: two- and three-dimensional culture environment. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 142 2641-2645. (doi:10.1111/j.1582-4934. 2010.01186.x)
95. Zhu Y, Mucci A & Huizinga JD 2005 Inwardly rectifying chloride channel activity in intestinal pacemaker cells. American Journal of Physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 288 G809-G821. (doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00301. 2004)
96. - current in interstitial cells of Cajal. Journal of Physiology 589 4565-4582. (doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2011.211094)