Electron microscopy of contact between a monocyte and a multinucleated giant cell in cardiac sarcoidosis

Publication date: Available online 23 February 2016 Source:Canadian Journal of Cardiology Author(s): Yuki Imaizumi, Kazuo Eguchi, Hiroki Imada, Kiyomi Hidano, Satoshi Niijima, Hirotoshi Kawata, Noriyoshi Fukushima, Tsunenori Saito, Michiaki Hiroe, Kazuomi Kario Using electron microscopy, we observed a monocyte contacting a multinucleated giant cell (MGC) via a gap junction in the biopsied myocardium of a cardiac sarcoidosis patient. This is the first report showing in vivo ultrastructural findings of a MGC in sarcoid granulomas. We speculate that communication between monocytes and MGCs, probably leading to cell fusion, contributes to the MGCs’ formation.
Source: Canadian Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research