Interstitial Cells of Cajal

Interstitial cells of Cajal are specialized cells found throughout the gastrointestinal tract that are essential for normal gastrointestinal motility. The laboratory studies both the function and structure of interstitial cells of Cajal in normal healthy tissue as well as in tissues taken from patients with motility disorders such as chronic constipation.
ICC Basic Science
ICC Clinical Science

Selected Publications (Complete list of publications)

• Farrugia G, Kraichely RE. Deciphering the molecular basis for the pacemaker signal. Gastroenterology. 2005 Nov;129(5):1787-9.
• Hanani M, Farrugia G, Komuro T. Intercellular coupling of interstitial cells of cajal in the digestive tract. Int Rev Cytol. 2005;242:249-82.
• Gibbons SJ, Rich A, Distad MA, Miller SM, Schmalz PF, Szurszewski JH, Sha L, Blume-Jensen P, Farrugia G. Kit/stem cell factor receptor-induced phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase signalling is not required for normal development and function of interstitial cells of Cajal in mouse gastrointestinal tract. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2003 Dec;15(6):643-53.
  
• Kobilo T, Szurszewski JH, Farrugia G, Hanani M. Coupling and innervation patterns of interstitial cells of Cajal in the deep muscular plexus of the guinea-pig. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2003 Dec;15(6):635-41.
  
• Lyford GL, Farrugia G. Ion channels in gastrointestinal smooth muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2003 Dec;3(6):583-7.
  
• Strege PR, Ou Y, Sha L, Rich A, Gibbons SJ, Szurszewski JH, Sarr MG, Farrugia G. Sodium current in human intestinal interstitial cells of Cajal. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2003 Dec;285(6):G1111-21. Epub 2003 Jul 31.
  
• Feldstein AE, Miller SM, El-Youssef M, Rodeberg D, Lindor NM, Burgart LJ, Szurszewski JH, Farrugia G. Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction associated with altered interstitial cells of cajal networks. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2003 Apr;36(4):492-7.
  
• Rich A, Miller SM, Gibbons SJ, Malysz J, Szurszewski JH, Farrugia G. Local presentation of Steel factor increases expression of c-kit immunoreactive interstitial cells of Cajal in culture. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2003 Feb;284(2):G313-20. Epub 2002 Oct 09
  
• Lyford GL, He CL, Soffer E, Hull TL, Strong SA, Senagore AJ, Burgart LJ, Young-Fadok T, Szurszewski JH, Farrugia G. Pan-colonic decrease in interstitial cells of Cajal in patients with slow transit constipation. Gut. 2002 Oct;51(4):496-501.
  
• Rich A, Hanani M, Ermilov LG, Malysz J, Belzer V, Szurszewski JH, Farrugia G. Physiological study of interstitial cells of Cajal identified by vital staining. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2002 Apr;14(2):189-96.
  
• He C-L, Soffer EE, Ferris CD, Walsh RM, Szurszewski JH, Farrugia G. Loss of interstitial cells of Cajal and inhibitory innervation in insulin-dependent diabetes. Gastroenterology 2001 Aug; 121(2): 427-34.
  
• He L, Burgart L, Wang L, Pemberton J, Young-Fadok T, Szurszewski JH, Farrugia G. (2000). Decreased interstitial cell of Cajal volume in patients with slow transit constipation. Gastroenterology. 118(1):14-21.
  
• Farrugia G, Szurszewski JH. (1999). Heme oxygenase, carbon monoxide, and interstitial cells of Cajal. Microscopy Research and Techniques. 47(5):321-4.
  
• Farrugia G. (1999). Ionic conductances in gastrointestinal smooth muscles and interstitial cells of Cajal. Annu Rev Physiol. 61:45-84.
  
• Miller SM, et al. (1998). Heme oxygenase 2 is present in interstitial cell networks of the mouse small intestine. Gastroenterology. 114(2):239-44.
• Gibbons SJ, de Giorgio R, Faussone Pellegrini MS, Garrity-Park MM, Miller SM, Schmalz PF, Young-Fadok TM, Larson DW, Dozois EJ, Camilleri M, Stanghellini V, Szurszewski JH, Farrugia G. Apoptotic cell death of human interstitial cells of Cajal. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2008 Sep 16.