Tobias Schuster

Cajal-like cells in the upper urinary tract: comparative study in various species.

The interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) play an important role in the control of gut motility. The recognition that the ICC cell membrane harbors the c-kit receptor (CD117) sparked rapid advancement in ICC research on the gut and certain pathologies using immunochemical and molecular methods. The question arises whether ICC exist in the upper urinary tract (UUT) and trigger motility. The present study analyzed the distribution of the c-kit receptor in the normal human UUT compared with various species. Immunohistochemistry (alkaline-phosphatase–anti-alkaline-phosphatase technique, immunofluorescence) was applied on serial sections using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies recognizing the c-kit receptor. C-kit staining was compared with standard endothelial, epithelial, neurogenic, histiocytic, mast cell, and smooth muscle markers, as well as a negative control. Normal proximal, middle, and distal ureter segments were analyzed in rodents, carnivores, porcines, cow, and humans. In all species the c-kit receptor was detected in either round or spindle-shaped cells. Because of their antigenic profile, the round cells were identified as mast cells occurring in all layers of the ureteral wall except the urothelium and were more frequent in humans. In contrast, the population of spindle-shaped cells was marked only by anti-c-kit receptor antibodies, thus resembling ICC. These ICC-like cells were found among the inner and outer smooth muscle layers and in the lamina propria of all species. In humans, spindle-shaped cells were also found vertically oriented within the urothelium. Our morphological data present for the first time the distribution of ICC in the UUT of various species. The ubiquitous distribution in the entire pyeloureteral complex provides strong evidence that ICC generate electrical pacemaker activity within the UUT as an intrinsic system. Animal studies may help to understand the physiological importance of these ICC-like cells. The significance of these findings needs to be evaluated by functional studies and investigations of certain congenital pathologies with disturbance of the urinary outflow.

A novel point mutation in the hormone binding domain of the androgen receptor associated with partial and minimal androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Mutations in the coding sequence of the androgen receptor (AR) gene result in a wide range of androgen insensitivity syndromes (AIS). We report an extended family in which at least five male individuals in different generations suffer from partial AIS. The index patient presented at birth with ambiguous genitalia; the karyotype was 46,XY and subsequent sex assignment male. Elevated stimulated testosterone (T) and normal baseline gonadotropins were found. Family history revealed four additional adult males affected with various abnormalities of their external genitalia. Molecular analysis of the coding sequence of the AR gene revealed in all a novel point mutation in exon 6, changing threonine to isoleucine at codon position 800 in the hormone-binding domain. We conclude that phenotypic variations in mild AR defects are striking and can remain undetected even until late in life.

Penoscrotal inversion, hypospadias, imperforate anus, facial anomalies, and developmental delay: definition of a new clinical syndrome.

Abstract We describe a 2-month-old boy with penoscro- tal inversion, hypospadias, imperforate anus, facial anomalies, developmental retardation, and a subtelomeric deletion of chromosome 13q. His phenotype with anogenital malformations and characteristic facies closely resembled two unrelated patients with minute deletions of chromosome 13q who we reported earlier. In addition, he had unilateral renal agenesis. We propose that these patients represent a clinically recognizable, novel chromosomal microdeletion syndrome. The findings indicate the presence of a major gene(s) on chromosome 13q33.2qter that regulate(s) the migration and development of ano-reno-genital cells and organs. We speculate that mutations of this developmental gene(s) may also result in more frequent congenital malformations (isolated hypospadias, uterus bicornis, unilateral renal agenesis). Additional studies are needed to further delineate the genetic defect.