Stromal Cells with Telocyte-Like Characteristics in the Ethmoidal Mucosa
A preliminary light-microscopic and immunohistochemical characterisation of long-process stromal cells in human ethmoidal mucosa, with explicit safeguards against endothelial mimics and cautious use of the term “telocyte-like”.
TC-like stromal cells are present in ethmoidal mucosa—but definitive telocyte identity remains unproven.
The study deliberately uses SCs/TCs because light microscopy and immunohistochemistry can support a telocyte-like phenotype but cannot replace ultrastructural confirmation.
Four morphological filters before immunophenotype
The study first selected candidate cells morphologically, then interpreted marker profiles, reducing the risk of mistaking endothelial profiles for telocytes.
Process length
Pragmatic light-microscopic telopode threshold.
Contour
Alternating podoms and podomeres.
Endothelial exclusion
Candidate profiles could not contain a true vascular lumen.
Calibre
Processes had to be markedly thinner than endothelial tubes.
Click a marker to see how it contributed
The eight-marker panel was interpreted as a combined phenotype rather than as proof based on one antibody.
CD34 positive
Candidate SCs/TCs were CD34+, but CD34 alone is not specific because endothelial cells can also be positive.
Preliminary, measurable features
The values are pilot data from two-dimensional sections and should not be treated as population norms.
μm process length
Mean measured telopode-like process length.
cells/mm²
Observed SC/TC-like stromal density.
SMM+ subset
Suggesting a myoid subpopulation.
HER-2+ subset
Possible phenotypic heterogeneity requiring validation.