RESEARCH NEWS

Telocytes as a new cell type in fascia

In 2010 Bulgarian researchers discovered a new cell type in humans and other vertebrates,
the so-called telocytes. They are present in fibrous connective tissues and contain very long
prolongations, called telopodes. While earlier researchers had considered them to be neural
cells, it became clear that they are connective tissue cells whose origin is in the
embryological mesenchyme. In contrast to regular fibroblasts they are less involved in the
synthesis of fibers and matrix elements, but are strongly involved in intercellular
communication. Recent studies now suggest that they play significant roles in fibroblast
mechanosensation the process how connective tissue cells sense mechanical stimulations
and translate them into chemical demands as well as in the regulation of wound repair and
matrix remodeling. It seems almost certain that they will become prime topics in the future
fascia research field. More
at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27452296 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27762645

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27796902

Pelvic organs now without any parasympathetic innervation?

A recent publication in the journal Science triggered considerable attention by suggesting

that the common concept about the autonomic innervation of pelvic organs may be wrong.
Up to now it has been assumed that the parasympathetic nervous system includes not only
a cranial but also a sacral portion, with the latter innervating mainly organs in the pelvic
region.

A detailed genetic and molecular analysis of the autonomic sacral nerves now revealed
rather surprisingly for most medicine professionals! that these nerves clearly express more
similarities with sympathetic than with parasympathetic fibers.

A possible consequence of these findings could be that the pelvic organs including uterus,
bladder, ovaries, kidneys, genital organs and large intestine have to be understood as
being primarily regulated by sympathetic innervation, whereas the functioning of the
parasympathetic nervous system will be restricted to cranial and vagal functions.
 More at:

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/354/6314/893

Parasympathetic innervation. Image: Blausen gallery 2014. Wikiversity Journal of Medicine.

DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010

New explanation for frequent tendon injuries in adolescent athletes

A study from the group around Adamantios Arampatzis PhD in Berlin investigated the
development of tendons and muscles in the legs of 18 adolescent volleyball players over a
period of 2 years. They found a relatively uniform increase in morphological and functional
parameters of the tendons, while the related muscles expressed more non-homogeneous
(and more diverse) increases over this time. They concluded that the resulting discrepancies
between muscular force and tendon loading capacity in a significant portion of the athletes
may be a suitable explanation for the frequent injuries in tendinous tissues found in this
population. If verified, this could strengthen the value a specific tendon training for injury
prevention for these young athletes. More at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26644277
Hormonal receptors on fascial fibroblasts

Two new publications from the group around Carla Stecco MD from Padua University
investigated specific transmembrane receptors on fascial fibroblasts. One of these studies
clearly documented the finding of hormonal receptors in female patients. This fits nicely to
well-known observations how e.g. estrogen tends to influence fascial stiffness. The new
study now reports that many fascial fibroblasts were found to contain receptors for estrogen.
Interestingly this was not the case with all fibroblasts, only with a portion of them. A similar
finding was reported about receptors for the hormone relaxin (which is assumed to express a
softening function on dense fibrous collagenous tissues). Both receptor types were more
frequent in post-menopausal than in pre-menopausal women. This finding may be
particularly relevant in the light of the fact that both receptor types are assumed to express
anti-inflammatory as well as anti-fibrotic functions.

Typical fibroblasts, as are present in all

fascial tissues.

Image:www.flickr.com/photos/zeissmicro/24271618921

The second study from this group documented the frequent presence of endocannabinoid
receptors in fascial fibroblasts. These transmembrane receptors are not only receptive to
specific cannabis-associated substances with the body, but they also exhibit a pain killing
function. The presence of such receptors in these tissues together with likely future
investigations about regional and inter-individual density differences are particularly
interesting in light of other studies that suggested an increased endocannabinoid expression
induced by manual therapy. Not surprisingly: these non-hormonal messenger substances are
also assumed to express anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic functions in fascial tissues. More
at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27349320