Telocytes in human skin – are they involved in skin regeneration?

The document from 2012 presents a study on the identification and potential function of telocytes (TCs) in human skin, particularly focusing on their role in skin regeneration. TCs, characterized by their long telopodes, were found in the dermis, especially around blood vessels, hair follicles, and glands, and were observed to form a 3D network. The study, which examined samples from three patients, used electron microscopy and immunofluorescence to show that TCs express markers such as c-kit/CD117 and CD34, and are in close contact with stem cells in the hair follicle bulge region. The findings suggest that TCs might contribute to skin homeostasis and regeneration by interacting with stem cells and other cells like mast cells. However, the precise nature of these interactions and the role of TCs in skin repair and regeneration require further investigation.