Ivan Varga1, Michal Miko2, David Kachlík3, Marianna Žišková4, Ľudovít Danihel5, Pavel Babál6. 1. Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Špitálska Street 24, Bratislava, 813 72 Slovakia. Electronic address: ivan.varga@fmed.uniba.sk. 2. Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Špitálska Street 24, Bratislava, 813 72 Slovakia. 3. Department of Anatomy, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U nemocnice 3, Prague, 128 00 Czech Republic; Department of Health Care Studies, College of Polytechnics, Tolstého 16, Jihlava, 586 01 Czech Republic. 4. Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Špitálska Street 24, Bratislava, 813 72 Slovakia; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, AGEL General Hospital, Mederčská Street 39, 945 75 Komárno, Slovakia. 5. Third Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and Hospital of The Brothers of Saint John of God, Bratislava, Namestie SNP 10, Bratislava, 814 65 Slovakia. 6. Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Špitálska Street 24, Bratislava, 813 72 Slovakia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Many widely used international histological textbooks claim that the epithelium of the human uterine tube consists of two, three, and, eventually, four types of cells. Most discrepancies among these textbooks relate to debates regarding the presence or absence of basal cells, whether the peg/intercalary cells and secretory cells are the same or distinct cell populations, and if the epithelium contains a population of immunologically active cells (T- and B-lymphocytes, NK cells, macrophages and dendritic cells) or dispersed endocrine cells. METHODS: Uterine tubes were obtained from 22 women (average age: 46.73 y) undergoing gynecological surgery. The women were in fertile age, mostly in the middle of the menstrual cycle (ovulation phase). Tissue samples were processed for immunohistochemistry using primary antibodies against proliferation markers (Ki67 and PCNA), immune system cells (CD1a, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD45RO, CD56, CD68, granzyme B and S100) and disperse endocrine cells (chromogranin A and synaptophysin). RESULTS: Most of the mature tubal epithelial cells, ciliated cells, and secretory cells were mitotically active (PCNA+), a population of basal undifferentiated cells was not identified. The dividing cells had a narrow-shaped nucleus (Ki67 positive). These cells were morphologically identical to - by the terminology mentioned - intercalary cells, assuming they represented actually dividing cells (epitheliocytus tubarius mitoticus). The tubal "basal cells" displayed small, hyperchromatic nuclei and very pale cytoplasm (clear cytoplasmic halo). They were located in the epithelium adjacent to the basement membrane, were non-mitotically active and their immunophenotype corresponded to intraepithelial regulatory T-lymphocytes (CD3+, CD8+, CD45RO+, CD4-, CD20-, CD56- and granzyme B-). Intraepithelial B-lymphocytes were only rarely identified. Intraepithelial NK cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and dispersed endocrine cells were not identified. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend replacing the term "epitheliocytus tubarius basalis" in the Terminologia Histologica with the term "lymphocytus T intraepithelialis tubarius", which represents intraepithelial regulatory T-cells (CD8+, CD45RO+) of the uterine tube. Additionally, we propose that intercalary/peg cells are actively dividing cells, instead of effete or degenerating cells. Finally, the histological nomenclature should be corrected in a way that peg/intercalary cells are not considered synonymous terms for secretory cells.
INTRODUCTION: Many widely used international histological textbooks claim that the epithelium of the human uterine tube consists of two, three, and, eventually, four types of cells. Most discrepancies among these textbooks relate to debates regarding the presence or absence of basal cells, whether the peg/intercalary cells and secretory cells are the same or distinct cell populations, and if the epithelium contains a population of immunologically active cells (T- and B-lymphocytes, NK cells, macrophages and dendritic cells) or dispersed endocrine cells. METHODS: Uterine tubes were obtained from 22 women (average age: 46.73 y) undergoing gynecological surgery. The women were in fertile age, mostly in the middle of the menstrual cycle (ovulation phase). Tissue samples were processed for immunohistochemistry using primary antibodies against proliferation markers (Ki67 and PCNA), immune system cells (CD1a, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD45RO, CD56, CD68, granzyme B and S100) and disperse endocrine cells (chromogranin A and synaptophysin). RESULTS: Most of the mature tubal epithelial cells, ciliated cells, and secretory cells were mitotically active (PCNA+), a population of basal undifferentiated cells was not identified. The dividing cells had a narrow-shaped nucleus (Ki67 positive). These cells were morphologically identical to - by the terminology mentioned - intercalary cells, assuming they represented actually dividing cells (epitheliocytus tubarius mitoticus). The tubal "basal cells" displayed small, hyperchromatic nuclei and very pale cytoplasm (clear cytoplasmic halo). They were located in the epithelium adjacent to the basement membrane, were non-mitotically active and their immunophenotype corresponded to intraepithelial regulatory T-lymphocytes (CD3+, CD8+, CD45RO+, CD4-, CD20-, CD56- and granzyme B-). Intraepithelial B-lymphocytes were only rarely identified. Intraepithelial NK cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and dispersed endocrine cells were not identified. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend replacing the term "epitheliocytus tubarius basalis" in the Terminologia Histologica with the term "lymphocytus T intraepithelialis tubarius", which represents intraepithelial regulatory T-cells (CD8+, CD45RO+) of the uterine tube. Additionally, we propose that intercalary/peg cells are actively dividing cells, instead of effete or degenerating cells. Finally, the histological nomenclature should be corrected in a way that peg/intercalary cells are not considered synonymous terms for secretory cells.
Authors: Magdalena Kulus; Wiesława Kranc; Katarzyna Wojtanowicz-Markiewicz; Piotr Celichowski; Agata Światły-Błaszkiewicz; Eliza Matuszewska; Patrycja Sujka-Kordowska; Aneta Konwerska; Maciej Zdun; Rut Bryl; Maria Wieczorkiewicz; Jakub Kulus; Bogusława Stelmach; Katarzyna Stefańska; Joanna Budna-Tukan; James N Petitte; Paul Mozdziak; Kornel Ratajczak; Jan Matysiak; Jędrzej M Jaśkowski; Michał Nowicki; Bartosz Kempisty Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-02-19 Impact factor: 5.923