CONTEXT: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells, which are of fundamental importance in regulating gastrointestinal motility. Recent evidence suggests that carbon monoxide is a neurotransmitter involved in neurotransmission between ICC and smooth muscle cells. Heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) is the major physiological mechanism for the generation of carbon monoxide in the enteric nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunocolocalization of HO-2 and ICCs in the normal pylorus and in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). DESIGN: Specimens from 18 infants with IHPS and 8 control specimens were examined using double-immunostaining with c-Kit and HO-2 antibodies. The immunolocalization was detected with the help of confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: Abundant HO-2 immunoreactivity was found in ICCs in the smooth muscle layer of normal pylorus. There was a decrease in the number of ICCs and lack of HO-2 immunoreactivity in ICCs in IHPS. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study provide the first evidence for the presence of HO-2 in ICCs in the normal human pylorus. The lack of ICCs and HO-2 in IHPS suggests impaired intracellular communication between ICCs and smooth muscle cells, contributing to motility dysfunction in IHPS.
CONTEXT: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells, which are of fundamental importance in regulating gastrointestinal motility. Recent evidence suggests that carbon monoxide is a neurotransmitter involved in neurotransmission between ICC and smooth muscle cells. Heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) is the major physiological mechanism for the generation of carbon monoxide in the enteric nervous system. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunocolocalization of HO-2 and ICCs in the normal pylorus and in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). DESIGN: Specimens from 18 infants with IHPS and 8 control specimens were examined using double-immunostaining with c-Kit and HO-2 antibodies. The immunolocalization was detected with the help of confocal laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: Abundant HO-2 immunoreactivity was found in ICCs in the smooth muscle layer of normal pylorus. There was a decrease in the number of ICCs and lack of HO-2 immunoreactivity in ICCs in IHPS. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study provide the first evidence for the presence of HO-2 in ICCs in the normal human pylorus. The lack of ICCs and HO-2 in IHPS suggests impaired intracellular communication between ICCs and smooth muscle cells, contributing to motility dysfunction in IHPS.
Authors: Cynthia M Nijenhuis; Peter G J ter Horst; Lolkje T W de Jong-van den Berg; Bob Wilffert Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2012-01 Impact factor: 4.335
Authors: Bjarke Feenstra; Frank Geller; Lisbeth Carstensen; Paul A Romitti; Izabella Baranowska Körberg; Bruce Bedell; Camilla Krogh; Ruzong Fan; Anna Svenningsson; Michele Caggana; Agneta Nordenskjöld; James L Mills; Jeffrey C Murray; Mads Melbye Journal: JAMA Date: 2013-08-21 Impact factor: 56.272