• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2016

Aortic valve stenosis is a heart disease prevalent in the elderly characterized by valvular calcification, fibrosis, and inflammation, but its exact pathogenesis remains unclear. Previously, aortic valve stenosis was thought to be caused by chronic passive and degenerative changes associated with aging. However, recent studies have demonstrated that atherosclerotic processes and inflammation can induce valvular calcification and bone deposition, leading to valvular stenosis. In particular, the most abundant cell type in cardiac valves, valvular interstitial cells, can differentiate into myofibroblasts and osteoblast-like cells, leading to valvular calcification and stenosis. Differentiation of valvular interstitial cells can be trigged by inflammatory stimuli from several immune cell types, including macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, B cells, and mast cells. This review indicates that crosstalk between immune cells and valvular interstitial cells plays an important role in the development of aortic valve stenosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 1977

The present study was underve the histochemical nature of various follicles and interstitial tissues in the ovaries of Korean native goats and cattle as well as the histochemical changes of those in the ovaries of Korean native goats treated with dexamethasone. Much more lipid granules appeared in the granulosa and theca cells of atretic follicles compared with normal follicles in these ruminant ovaries. In the ovaries of Korean native goats the interstitial tissue derived from the theca interna of atretic follicles appeared the form of patches of cells and the interstitial tissue derived from stromal cells appeared the form of diffuse, obscure bounds. In the ovaries of Korean native cattle the interstitial tissue derived from theca interna of atretic follicles showed sparsely scattered form of pathes of cells. The histochemical components were described on the basis of lipids in the granulosa and theca cells of normal follicles, atretic follicles and interstitial tissue. In the ovaries of Korean natve goats treated with dexamethasone, the granulosa and theca cells of atretic foillicle contained plenty lipid granules that were increased in size and number, however, lipid granules were markedly decreased in the interstitial tissue.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.979-984
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• 2010

Recent progress in neonatal medicine has enabled survival of many extremely low-birth-weight infants. Prenatal steroids, surfactants, and non-invasive ventilation have helped reduce the incidence of the classical form of bronchopulmonary dysplasia characterized by marked fibrosis and emphysema. However, a new form of bronchopulmonary dysplasia marked by arrest of alveolarization remains a complication in the postnatal course of extremely low-birth-weight infants. To better understand this challenging complication, detailed alveolarization mechanisms should be delineated. Proper alveolarization involves the temporal and spatial coordination of a number of cells, mediators, and genes. Cross-talk between the mesenchyme and the epithelium through soluble and diffusible factors are key processes of alveolarization. Lung interstitial cells derived from the mesenchyme play a crucial role in alveolarization. Peak alveolar formation coincides with intense lung interstitial cell proliferation. Myofibroblasts are essential for secondary septation, a critical process of alveolarization, and localize to the front lines of alveologenesis. The differentiation and migration of myofibroblasts are strictly controlled by various mediators and genes. Disruption of this finely controlled mechanism leads to abnormal alveolarization. Since arrest in alveolarization is a hallmark of a new form of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, knowledge regarding the role of lung interstitial cells during alveolarization and their control mechanism will enable us to find more specific therapeutic strategies for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In this review, the role of lung interstitial cells during alveolarization and control mechanisms of their differentiation and migration will be discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2006

Many gastrointestinal muscles show electrical oscillation, so-called 'slow wave', originated from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). Thus, a technique to freshly isolate the cells is indispensable to explore the electrophysiological properties of the ICCs. To apply an enzyme solution on the serosal surface for cell isolation, the intestine was inverted and 0.02% trypsin solution and 0.04% collagenase solution were applied to serosal cavity. After the enzyme treatment, mucosal layer was removed and longitudinal muscle layer was gently separated from the rest of tissue. The thin layer was stretched in the recording chamber and mounted on an inverted microscope. Using ${\beta}-escine$, perforated whole cell patch clamp technique was used. Under a microscope, the tissue showed smooth muscle cells and interstitial cells around the myenteric plexus. Under voltage clamp condition, three types of membrane potential were recorded. One group of interstitial cells, which were positive to methylene blue and CD34, showed spontaneous outward current. These cells had bipolar shape and were considered as fibroblast-like cells because of their peculiar shape and arrangement. Another group, positive to c-kit and methylene blue, showed spontaneous inward current. These cells had more rounded shape and processes and were considered as ICCs. The third, positive to c-kit and had granules containing methylene blue, showed quiet membrane potentials under the voltage-clamp mode. These cells appeared to be resident macrophages. Therefore, in the freshly isolated thin tissue preparation, methylene blue could easily identify three types of cells rather than morphological properties. Using this method, we were able to study electrical properties of fibroblast and residential macrophage as well as myenteric ICCs.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 1995

This research was undertaken to determine the effect of cyclophosphamide(CP) on the Leydig cells and macrophages in the interstitial tissue of the mice(ICR strain). To evaluate how this drug could affect the these cells, during administration(200mg/kg) 1 time to 3 times at intervals of 48hrs. In the Leydig cells of the control and 1 time treated group, a number of microperoxisomes were observed interspersed among the network of smooth endoplasmic reticulum(SER) in cellular regions where the SER predominantes. Microperoxisomes were also founded in close proximity to the cell membrane. The interstitial tissue were exhibited degenerating Leydig cells but macrophages wer containd greatly increased numbers of cytoplasmic inclusion body and secondary lysosomes. In the 1 time treated group. A very small number of Leydig cells were observed, from 2 to 3 time group, but macrophages were more increased than 1 time group in number. CP thus offers a valuable opportunity to study further the interaction between Leydig cells and macrophages in the interstitial tissue. These alteration could be direct mediated by toxic effect of the drug on the interstitial tissue.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.529-534
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• 2002

Interstitial pneumonia is a heterogenous group of inflammatory and fibrosing lesions that manifest themselves as infiltrative lung disease. Of these, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia is characterized as a variable degree of interstitial inflammation with or without fibrosis and is distinguished from usual interstitial pneumonia and desquamative interstitial pneumonia, histologically. The influx of inflammatory cells and the responses of immune effector cells injury to the alveolar wall and these initial injuries results in alveolitis and fibrosis. Consequently, the gas exchange throughout the alveolar wall is impaired and the patients suffer from lung diseases of a restrictive pattern. The chief complaints represented are dyspnea and dry cough. We experienced a case of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia in a 10-year old girl. The patient had been healthy and had not been exposed to organic dusts or other toxic materials. The pathology of lung biopsy tissue showed that the alveoli were thickened by a mixture of chronic inflammatory cells and collagen type fibrosis. High resolution computed tomography(HRCT) found the patchy areas of ground-glass opacity with patchy consolidation and irregular reticular opacity, and diffuse distribution without zonal predominance. The forced vital capicity(FVC) was 31%, forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) 29% and $FEV_1/FVC$ 90%, so a restrictive pulmonary insufficiency was found.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.196-199
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• 2008

The interstitial cells of Cajal are the pacemakers in the gastrointestinal tract that modulate gastrointestinal motility. A case of a neonate with intestinal pseudo-obstruction caused by a decreased number of the interstitial cells of Cajal is presented. A premature male infant born at 32 weeks of gestation showed progressive abdominal distention beginning 3 days after initiation of enteral feeding at 15 days of life. No etiologic factors were identified on radiologic studies, a gastrographin enema, and an intestinal biopsy other than a markedly decreased number of the intestinal cells of Cajal. An ileostomy, followed by repair of the ileostomy was done, which resulted in but a limited improvement of the abdominal gas pattern. Respiratory distress, pancytopenia, and abdominal distention persisted, and the infant expired on 142 days of life.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.193-205
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• 1994

In order to understand fine structural and histochemical changes in the cyst cell and he interstitial cell in the testis of the spottybelly greenling Hexagrammos agrammus associated with the reproductive cycle from January to December, 1992, there cells were studied by electron microscopy and light microscopy. The cyst cells in the mature testis show a weak affinity to haematoxylin. while they become larger in size. At this time, these cells appear to be more functional than those on the growing stage because several mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, glycogen particles and a few lipid droplets appear in the cytoplasm of the cyst cell. It appears, therefore, that the cyst cell of this species has vital functions for nutrition, secretion and steroidogenesis. Well-developed interstitial cells contain large rod-shape or spherical mitochondria with tubular cristae and the large quantities of smooth endoplasmic recticulum and electron-dense materials in the vesicle at the mature and spawning stage. The interstitial cells of this species show characteristics of steroid interstitial cells having a vesicular nucleus, mitochondria with tubular cristae, and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. However, these interstitial cells of teleost give negative histochemical reactions for Sudan black B.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2013

Objective: Pyungwi-san (PWS) plays a role in a number of physiologic and pharmacologic functions in many organs. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells that generate slow waves in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of PWS in mouse small-intestinal ICCs. Methods: Enzymatic digestion was used to dissociate ICCs from the small intestine of a mouse. The whole-cell patch-clamp configuration was used to record membrane potentials from the cultured ICCs. Results: ICCs generated pacemaker potentials in the GI tract. PWS produced membrane depolarization in the current clamp mode. Pretreatment with a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution and a thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase, inhibitor in the endoplasmic reticulum, eliminated the generation of pacemaker potentials. However, only when the thapsigargin was applied in a bath solution, the membrane depolarization was not produced by PWS. Furthermore, the membrane depolarizations due to PWS were inhibited not by U-73122, an active phospholipase C inhibitor, but by chelerythrine and calphostin C, protein kinase C inhibitors. Conclusions: These results suggest that PWS might affect GI motility by modulating the pacemaker activity in the ICCs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1999

In the mammalian ovary, follicular development and atresia continuously occur during the reproductive cycles. Follicular atresia occurs through granulosa cell apoptosis. Apoptosis is known as the physiological cell death, which is regulated by bcl-2 gene family. In the bcl-2 gene family, bcl-2 and bcl-xLong are known as inhibitors of apoptosis, whereas bax and bcl-xShort are known as inducer of apoptosis. We thought that bcl-2 protein is associated with follicular development and atresia. But it is not known that the distribution of cells containing bcl-2 protein during follicular development and atresia. Therefore, to examine the distribution of cells with bcl-2 protein during ovarian follicular development and atresia, the immunohistochemistry was used in the rat ovary. Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was localized in the interstitial cells, theca externa cells and granulosa cells around of antrum. All positive signals were observed in the cytoplasm of these cells. Positive signals were strongly observed in the interstitial and theca externa cells of growing antral follicles. While, positive signals were weakly observed in these cells from atretic antral follicles. Positive signals were very weakly observed in the granulosa cells of growing and atretic antral follicles. According to these data, we suggested that bcl-2 proteins which were strongly expressed in the interstitial cells and theca externa cells of growing antral follicles inhibit follicular atresia. And we purposed that bcl-2 proteins regulated follicular development and atresia through the action of bcl-2 gene family.