Interstitial cells of Cajal: clinical relevance in pediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells of gastrointestinal motility that generate and transmit electrical slow waves to smooth muscle cells in the gut wall, thus inducing phasic contractions and coordinated peristalsis. Traditionally, tyrosine-protein kinase Kit (c-kit), also known as CD117 or mast/stem cell growth factor receptor, has been used as the primary marker of ICCs in pathology specimens. More recently, the Ca²⁺-activated chloride channel, anoctamin-1, has been introduced as a more specific marker of ICCs. Over the years, various gastrointestinal motility disorders have been described in infants and young children in which symptoms of functional bowel obstruction arise from ICC-related neuromuscular dysfunction of the colon and rectum. The current article provides a comprehensive overview of the embryonic origin, distribution, and functions of ICCs, while also illustrating the absence or deficiency of ICCs in pediatric patients with Hirschsprung disease intestinal neuronal dysplasia, isolated hypoganglionosis, internal anal sphincter achalasia, and congenital smooth muscle cell disorders such as megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome.