The role of telocytes in morphogenetic bioelectrical signaling: once more unto the breach

[...]they form a continuous net wrapped around the larger cells of the organ. The present consensus is that TCs could form an extensive intercellular information transmission and executive system that may utilize electric currents, small molecules, exosomes—and possibly electrical events within the cytoskeleton—to modulate homeostasis, stem cell activity, tissue repair, peristalsis, anticancer activity and other complex functions in many organs (Gherghiceanu and Popescu, 2010; Popescu et al., 2011; Cretoiu et al., 2012a,b,c, 2013; Popescu et al., 2012; Luesma et al., 2013). (2014) examined human cardiac-cultured TCs and found that these cells expressed large conductance Ca(2+) -activated K(+) current (BKCa) and inwardly rectifying K(+) current (IKir), but not transient outward K(+) current (Ito) and ATP-sensitive potassium current (KATP). The system may operate as follows: Since the TC net makes gap junction contacts with the cells in an organ its electrical activity could modulate, and be modulated by, the individual Vmems of these cells.