Telocytes and stem cells in limbus and uvea of mouse eye

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine

María José Luesma¹  Mihaela Gherghiceanu² 

[1] Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain;Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, ‘Victor Babeş’ National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest, Romania

关键词: telocytes;    stem cells;    limbus;    iris;    cornea;    cell junctions;    exosomes;    eye regeneration;   

DOI  :  10.1111/jcmm.12111

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

The potential of stem cell (SC) therapies for eye diseases is well-recognized. However, the results remain only encouraging as little is known about the mechanisms responsible for eye renewal, regeneration and/or repair. Therefore, it is critical to gain knowledge about the specific tissue environment (niches) where the stem/progenitor cells reside in eye. A new type of interstitial cell–telocyte (TC) (www.telocytes.com) was recently identified by electron microscopy (EM). TCs have very long (tens of micrometres) and thin (below 200 nm) prolongations named telopodes (Tp) that form heterocellular networks in which SCs are embedded. We found TCs by EM and electron tomography in sclera, limbus and uvea of the mouse eye. Furthermore, EM showed that SCs were present in the anterior layer of the iris and limbus. Adhaerens and gap junctions were found to connect TCs within a network in uvea and sclera. Nanocontacts (electron-dense structures) were observed between TCs and other cells: SCs, melanocytes, nerve endings and macrophages. These intercellular ‘feet’ bridged the intercellular clefts (about 10 nm wide). Moreover, exosomes (extracellular vesicles with a diameter up to 100 nm) were delivered by TCs to other cells of the iris stroma. The ultrastructural nanocontacts of TCs with SCs and the TCs paracrine influence via exosomes in the epithelial and stromal SC niches suggest an important participation of TCs in eye regeneration.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine Published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine/Blackwell Publishing Ltd

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