Abstract
Background & Aims: It has been generally assumed that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the human gastrointestinal tract have similar functions to those in rodents, but no direct experimental evidence exists to date for this assumption. This is an important question because pathologists have noted decreased numbers of ICC in patients with a variety of motility disorders, and some have speculated that loss of ICC could be responsible for motor dysfunction. Our aims were to determine whether myenteric ICC (ICC-MY) in human jejunum are pacemaker cells and whether these cells actively propagate pacemaker activity. Methods: The mucosa and submucosa were removed, and strips of longitudinal muscle were peeled away to reveal the ICC-MY network. ICC networks were loaded with the Ca2+ indicator fluo-4, and pacemaker activity was recorded via high-speed video imaging at 36.5°C ± 0.5°C. Results: Rhythmic, biphasic Ca2+ transients (6.03 ± 0.33 cycles/min) occurred in Kit-positive ICC-MY. These consisted of a rapidly propagating upstroke phase that initiated a sustained plateau phase, which was associated with Ca2+ spikes in neighboring smooth muscle. Pacemaker activity was dependent on inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor-operated stores and mitochondrial function. The upstroke phase of Ca2+ transients in ICC-MY appeared to result from Ca2+ influx through dihydropyridine-resistant Ca2+ channels, whereas the plateau phase was attributed to Ca2+ release from inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor-operated Ca2+ stores. Conclusions: Each ICC-MY in human jejunum generates spontaneous pacemaker activity that actively propagates through the ICC network. Loss of these cells could severely disrupt the normal function of the human small intestine.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1852-1865 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Gastroenterology |
| Volume | 132 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2007 |
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- Gastroenterology
Cite this
The Mechanism and Spread of Pacemaker Activity Through Myenteric Interstitial Cells of Cajal in Human Small Intestine. / Lee, Hyun Tai; Hennig, Grant W.; Fleming, Neal; Keef, Kathleen D.; Spencer, Nick J.; Ward, Sean M.; Sanders, Kenton M.; Smith, Terence K.
In: Gastroenterology, Vol. 132, No. 5, 05.2007, p. 1852-1865.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Mechanism and Spread of Pacemaker Activity Through Myenteric Interstitial Cells of Cajal in Human Small Intestine
AU - Lee, Hyun Tai
AU - Hennig, Grant W.
AU - Fleming, Neal
AU - Keef, Kathleen D.
AU - Spencer, Nick J.
AU - Ward, Sean M.
AU - Sanders, Kenton M.
AU - Smith, Terence K.
PY - 2007/5
Y1 - 2007/5
N2 - Background & Aims: It has been generally assumed that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the human gastrointestinal tract have similar functions to those in rodents, but no direct experimental evidence exists to date for this assumption. This is an important question because pathologists have noted decreased numbers of ICC in patients with a variety of motility disorders, and some have speculated that loss of ICC could be responsible for motor dysfunction. Our aims were to determine whether myenteric ICC (ICC-MY) in human jejunum are pacemaker cells and whether these cells actively propagate pacemaker activity. Methods: The mucosa and submucosa were removed, and strips of longitudinal muscle were peeled away to reveal the ICC-MY network. ICC networks were loaded with the Ca2+ indicator fluo-4, and pacemaker activity was recorded via high-speed video imaging at 36.5°C ± 0.5°C. Results: Rhythmic, biphasic Ca2+ transients (6.03 ± 0.33 cycles/min) occurred in Kit-positive ICC-MY. These consisted of a rapidly propagating upstroke phase that initiated a sustained plateau phase, which was associated with Ca2+ spikes in neighboring smooth muscle. Pacemaker activity was dependent on inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor-operated stores and mitochondrial function. The upstroke phase of Ca2+ transients in ICC-MY appeared to result from Ca2+ influx through dihydropyridine-resistant Ca2+ channels, whereas the plateau phase was attributed to Ca2+ release from inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor-operated Ca2+ stores. Conclusions: Each ICC-MY in human jejunum generates spontaneous pacemaker activity that actively propagates through the ICC network. Loss of these cells could severely disrupt the normal function of the human small intestine.
AB - Background & Aims: It has been generally assumed that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the human gastrointestinal tract have similar functions to those in rodents, but no direct experimental evidence exists to date for this assumption. This is an important question because pathologists have noted decreased numbers of ICC in patients with a variety of motility disorders, and some have speculated that loss of ICC could be responsible for motor dysfunction. Our aims were to determine whether myenteric ICC (ICC-MY) in human jejunum are pacemaker cells and whether these cells actively propagate pacemaker activity. Methods: The mucosa and submucosa were removed, and strips of longitudinal muscle were peeled away to reveal the ICC-MY network. ICC networks were loaded with the Ca2+ indicator fluo-4, and pacemaker activity was recorded via high-speed video imaging at 36.5°C ± 0.5°C. Results: Rhythmic, biphasic Ca2+ transients (6.03 ± 0.33 cycles/min) occurred in Kit-positive ICC-MY. These consisted of a rapidly propagating upstroke phase that initiated a sustained plateau phase, which was associated with Ca2+ spikes in neighboring smooth muscle. Pacemaker activity was dependent on inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor-operated stores and mitochondrial function. The upstroke phase of Ca2+ transients in ICC-MY appeared to result from Ca2+ influx through dihydropyridine-resistant Ca2+ channels, whereas the plateau phase was attributed to Ca2+ release from inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor-operated Ca2+ stores. Conclusions: Each ICC-MY in human jejunum generates spontaneous pacemaker activity that actively propagates through the ICC network. Loss of these cells could severely disrupt the normal function of the human small intestine.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247594340&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247594340&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.02.049
DO - 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.02.049
M3 - Article
C2 - 17484879
AN - SCOPUS:34247594340
VL - 132
SP - 1852
EP - 1865
JO - Gastroenterology
JF - Gastroenterology
SN - 0016-5085
IS - 5
ER -