medicina Article An Immunohistochemical Study of Gastric Mucosa and Critical Review Indicate That the Subepithelial Telocytes Are Prelymphatic Endothelial Cells Oana D. Toader 1, Mugurel C. Rusu 2,* , Lauren¸tiuMogoantă 3, Sorin Hostiuc 4 , Adelina Maria Jianu 5 and Adrian Cosmin Ilie 5 1 Department XIII of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Neonatology, “Polizu” Clinical Hospital, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania 2 Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania 3 Department of Histology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Street, 200349 Craiova, Dolj, Romania 4 Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania 5 Division of Anatomy, “Victor Babe¸s”University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timi¸soara,Romania * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +4-072-236-3705 Received: 28 March 2019; Accepted: 20 June 2019; Published: 27 June 2019 Abstract: Background and Objectives: There are only a few studies regarding gut subepithelial telocytes (TCs). The telopodes, namely peculiar TCs’ prolongations described on two-dimensional cuts, are not enough to differentiate this specific cell type. Subepithelial TCs were associated with the intestinal stem niche but a proper differential diagnosis with lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) was not performed. In this study, we will also critically review studies suggesting that distinctive TCs could be positioned within the lamina propria. Materials and Methods: We performed an immunohistochemical study of human gastric mucosa to test the expression of D2-40, the lymphatic marker, as well as that of CD31, CD34, CD44, CD117/c-kit, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin in the gastric subepithelial niche.