Biomaterial Database

Ultrastructure of the small intestinal mucosa in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). 1987

L Hendel, and T Kobayasi, and M Petri

The present study deals with ultrastructural changes of jejunal absorptive epithelium in mucosal biopsy specimens from eleven patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Epithelial cells showed cytoplasmic condensations with cholesterol clefts and fat droplets. Intercellular spaces of the epithelium were dilated with deposits of fat droplets, while tight junctions and villi preserved their normal structures. Goblet cells and entero-endocrine cells showed no changes. In the lamina propria, fat droplets were observed as well. Vessels were strongly dilated and in 2 patients contained conglomerates of thrombocytes. Perivascular cell infiltrates consisted of lymphocytes, macrophages and mast cells, while plasma cells were scarcely seen; in 2 patients, plasma cells were abundant. Collagen fibrils, elastic fibres, and nerves showed no definite changes. The findings of epithelial cell degeneration and fat droplet deposits indicate dysfunction of jejunal absorptive epithelial cells in PSS.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007413	Intestinal Mucosa	Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI.	Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D007421	Intestine, Small	The portion of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT between the PYLORUS of the STOMACH and the ILEOCECAL VALVE of the LARGE INTESTINE. It is divisible into three portions: the DUODENUM, the JEJUNUM, and the ILEUM.	Small Intestine,Intestines, Small,Small Intestines
D008297	Male		Males
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D012595	Scleroderma, Systemic	A chronic multi-system disorder of CONNECTIVE TISSUE. It is characterized by SCLEROSIS in the SKIN, the LUNGS, the HEART, the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, the KIDNEYS, and the MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM. Other important features include diseased small BLOOD VESSELS and AUTOANTIBODIES. The disorder is named for its most prominent feature (hard skin), and classified into subsets by the extent of skin thickening: LIMITED SCLERODERMA and DIFFUSE SCLERODERMA.	Sclerosis, Systemic,Systemic Scleroderma,Systemic Sclerosis