UNASSIGNED: Telocytes (TCs) are a novel type of interstitial cells only recently described. This study aimed at characterizing and quantifying TCs and telopodes (Tps) in normal and diseased hearts. We have been suggested that TCs are influenced by the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition. We used transmission electron microscopy and @entity2467 immunolabelling to identify and quantify TCs in explanted @entity1 hearts with @entity712 ( @entity712 ) because of dilated, @entity63 or inflammatory @entity296 . LV myectomy samples from @entity1 with @entity472 with preserved ejection fraction and samples from donor hearts which could not be used for transplantation served as controls. Quantitative immunoconfocal analysis revealed that 1  mm(2) of the normal myocardium contains 14.9      3.4 TCs and 41.6      5.9 Tps. As compared with the control group, the number of TCs and Tps in @entity712 decreased more than twofold. There were no differences between @entity712 and control in the number of Ki67-positive TCs. In contrast, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated @entity1977 nick end labelling-positive TCs increased threefold in diseased hearts as compared to control. Significant inverse correlations were found between the amount of mature fibrillar collagen type I and the number of TCs (r  =  -0.84; P  <  0.01) and Tps (r  =  -0.85; P  <  0.01). The levels of degraded collagens showed a significant positive relationship with the TCs numbers. It is concluded that in @entity712 the number of TCs are decreased because of higher rates of TCs apoptosis. Moreover, our results indicate that a close relationship exists between TCs and the ECM protein composition such that the number of TCs and Tps correlates negatively with the amount of mature fibrillar collagens and correlates positively with degraded collagens.

The failing XXXX heart is characterized by decreased numbers of telocytes as result of apoptosis and altered extracellular matrix composition.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'patients'] @entity296 :: ('MESH:D009202', 'Disease') :: ['cardiomyopathy'] @entity712 :: ('MESH:D006333', 'Disease') :: ['HF', 'heart failure'] @entity63 :: ('MESH:D007511', 'Disease') :: ['ischemic'] @entity1977 :: ('CHEBI:17625', 'Chemical') :: ['dUTP'] @entity2467 :: ('3815', 'Gene') :: ['c-kit'] @entity472 :: ('MESH:D001024', 'Disease') :: ['aortic stenosis']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['human']
