UNASSIGNED: Telocytes (TCs), a distinct interstitial cell population, have been identified in the uterus, oviduct and placenta, with multiple proposed potential biological functions. Their unique structure allows them to form intercellular junctions with various immunocytes, both in normal and diseased tissues, suggesting a potential functional relationship with the local immune response. It has been hypothesized that through direct heterocellular junctions or indirect paracrine effects, TCs influence the activity of local immunocytes that are involved in the inflammatory process and in immune-mediated reproductive abnormalities. However, no reliable cytological evidence for this hypothesis is currently available. In this study, we cultured primary @entity19 uterine TCs and collected @entity40108 ( @entity40108 ). @entity19 peritoneal macrophages (pMACs) were co-cultured for 48  hrs with @entity40108 or with DMEM/F12 or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as negative and positive controls, respectively. Normal uterine TCs with a typical structure and a CD-34-positive/vimentin-positive/ @entity17777 -negative immunophenotype were observed during culture. Morphologically, @entity40108 -treated pMACs displayed an obvious activation/immunoresponse, in contrast to over-stimulation and cell death after LPS treatment and no sign of activation in the presence of DMEM/F12. Accordingly, a cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay indicated significant activation of pMACs by @entity40108 and LPS compared to DMEM/F12, thus supporting the marked morphological differences among these groups of cells. Furthermore, within a panel of macrophage-derived cytokines/enzymes, @entity777 ( @entity777 ) and inducible @entity842 synthase were significantly elevated in @entity40108 -treated pMACs; @entity5 @entity39 factor a, @entity34551 , and @entity1618 were slightly, but significantly, up-regulated; and no changes were observed for transforming growth factor-b1, @entity635 , @entity14293 and @entity6026 . Our results indicate that TCs are not simply innocent bystanders but are rather functional players in the activation of pMACs; they trigger and maintain the immune response, likely through indirect paracrine effects. Thus, we provide preliminary in  vitro evidence of immunoregulatory and immunosurveillance roles for TCs.

In vitro morphology, viability and cytokine secretion of uterine telocyte-activated XXXX peritoneal macrophages.

@entity14293 :: ('83430(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['IL-23a'] @entity6026 :: ('16173(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['IL-18'] @entity39 :: ('MESH:D009336', 'Disease') :: ['necrosis'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['Mouse', 'murine'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumour'] @entity17777 :: ('16590(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['c-kit'] @entity34551 :: ('16177(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['IL1-R1'] @entity635 :: ('16176(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['IL-1b'] @entity1618 :: ('16153(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['IL-10'] @entity40108 :: ('OMIM:275350', 'Disease') :: ['TCM', 'TC conditioned media'] @entity777 :: ('16193(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['interleukin-6', 'IL-6'] @entity842 :: ('MESH:D009569', 'Chemical') :: ['nitric oxide']
@entity19 :: (10090,Species) :: ['mouse']
