Review
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2008; 14(41): 6285-6288
Published online Nov 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.6285
Interstitial cells of Cajal in the gut - A gastroenterologist’s point of view
Lucian M Negreanu, Philippe Assor, Bogdan Mateescu, Catalin Cirstoiu
Lucian M Negreanu, Philippe Assor, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Trousseau University Hospital Center, Tours 37044, France
Lucian M Negreanu, Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital, Bucharest 050098, Romania
Bogdan Mateescu, Gastroenterology Department, Colentina Hospital, Bucharest 020125, Romania
Catalin Cirstoiu, Orthopedics and Surgery Department, University Hospital, Bucharest 050098, Romania
Author contributions: Negreanu LM, Assor P, Mateescu B and Cirstoiu C contributed equally to this work; Negreanu LM, Assor P and Mateescu B wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Lucian M Negreanu, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital Bucharest, 169, Splaiul Independentei Street, Sector 5, Bucharest 050098, Romania. negreanu_99@yahoo.com
Telephone: +40-72-2546405 Fax: +40-21-3180505
Received: June 17, 2008
Revised: August 11, 2008
Accepted: August 18, 2008
Published online: November 7, 2008
Abstract

Alterations of normal function of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are reported in many intestinal disorders. Diagnosis of their involvement is rare (infrequent), but necessary to propose a specific treatment. This article reviews the place of ICC in the pathogenesis of achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and slow transit constipation. Moreover we discuss the role of the Cajal cells in the development of stromal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Keywords: Cajal cells, c-kit, Intestinal motility, Achalasia, Gastrointestinal stromal tumor