Eponymous cell names in Medicine
Eponymous cell names in Medicine
Cells and structures – Eponymous cell names in Medicine
| Name | Named After | Description |
|---|
| Auer rods | Dr. John Auer | Crystalline inclusion bodies found in myeloid cells and characteristic of certain types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). |
| Betz cells | Vladimir Aleksandrovich Betz | Large pyramidal cells located in the motor cortex of the cerebrum. |
| Cajal cells | Santiago Ramón y Cajal | Specific types of cells found in the brain’s cerebral cortex. notes they were first discovered by Santiago Ramón y Cajal. |
| Clara cells | Max Clara | Secretory cells found in the lungs, now commonly known as club cells. |
| Kupffer cells | Karl Wilhelm Kupffer | Macrophages (phagocytic cells) located in the liver. |
| Langerhans cells | Paul Langerhans | A type of dendritic cell found in the epidermis and involved in the immune response. |
| Islets of Langerhans | Paul Langerhans | Clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce hormones, including insulin. |
| Paneth cells | Joseph Paneth | Cells located in the small intestine and involved in immune defense by secreting antimicrobial peptides. |
| Purkinje cells | Jan E. Purkinje | Large, flask-shaped neurons located in the cerebellum of the brain. |
| Reed-Sternberg cells | Dr. Carl Sternberg and Dr. Dorothy Reed | Distinctive large cells found in Hodgkin lymphoma. |
| Renshaw cells | Birdsey Renshaw | Inhibitory interneurons found in the spinal cord. |
| Sertoli cells | Enrico Sertoli | “Nurse” cells found in the testes that are essential for sperm production. |
Advanced information on eponymous cell names
| Eponymous Cell Name | Description and Location | Clinical Significance and Diagnostic Use | Relevant Disease Associations |
|---|
| Auer rods | Needle-like or rod-shaped cytoplasmic inclusions composed of azurophilic granules, found within the cytoplasm of myeloid blasts and promyelocytes | Pathognomonic for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), differentiating it from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Their presence indicates a myeloid lineage origin and can be associated with specific AML subtypes (e.g., M2, M3, M4). | Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), particularly M2, M3 (acute promyelocytic leukemia), and M4 subtypes. |
| Betz cells | Large pyramidal neurons (motor neurons) located in layer V of the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus) | Involved in the initiation and coordination of voluntary movement. Degeneration is seen in certain neurological disorders. | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – atrophy and loss of Betz cells contribute to motor neuron degeneration; Primary Lateral Sclerosis. |
| Cajal cells (interstitial cells of Cajal) | Specialized pacemaker cells found in the gastrointestinal tract (between muscle layers) | Play a crucial role in regulating gastrointestinal motility and peristalsis, acting as electrical pacemakers. Dysfunction can lead to motility disorders. | Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders (e.g., chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, Hirschsprung’s disease), Gastroparesis. |
| Kupffer cells | Specialized macrophages located in the liver sinusoids | Participate in the reticuloendothelial system, clearing blood of pathogens, debris, and senescent red blood cells. They play a role in liver immunity, inflammation, and metabolism. | Liver diseases (e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis), Sepsis (involvement in systemic inflammation). |
| Langerhans cells | Antigen-presenting dendritic cells residing in the epidermis (and other stratified squamous epithelia like oral mucosa) | Key in initiating immune responses in the skin by presenting antigens to T lymphocytes. They can migrate to lymph nodes to activate adaptive immunity. | Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) – neoplastic proliferation of Langerhans cells; various skin inflammatory and allergic conditions. |
| Islets of Langerhans | Clusters of endocrine cells within the pancreas | Produce and secrete hormones vital for glucose regulation (e.g., insulin from beta cells, glucagon from alpha cells, somatostatin from delta cells). | Diabetes Mellitus (type 1 and type 2), Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (islet cell tumors). |
| Paneth cells | Specialized epithelial cells located at the base of the crypts of Lieberkühn in the small intestine | Contribute to intestinal immunity by secreting antimicrobial peptides (e.g., defensins, lysozyme) and growth factors, maintaining the stem cell niche. | Crohn’s disease (dysfunction and reduced numbers), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). |
| Purkinje cells | Large, flask-shaped neurons with extensive dendritic trees found in the cerebellar cortex | Crucial for motor coordination, balance, and motor learning. Their intricate dendritic trees allow for extensive synaptic input integration. | Ataxia (various forms, e.g., spinocerebellar ataxias), Cerebellar Degeneration, Alcoholism (Purkinje cell loss), Multiple Sclerosis. |
| Reed-Sternberg cells | Large, multinucleated cells with prominent nucleoli (owl’s eye appearance) | The defining tumor cells of Hodgkin lymphoma. While they are characteristic, they constitute a small proportion of the tumor mass, with the majority being inflammatory cells. Their presence is essential for diagnosing classical Hodgkin lymphoma. | Hodgkin Lymphoma. |
| Renshaw cells | Inhibitory interneurons located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord | Regulate motor neuron activity through recurrent inhibition, providing feedback control to prevent over-excitation of motor neurons. | Spasticity (disrupted Renshaw cell function contributes to increased muscle tone), Strychnine poisoning (inhibits glycine receptors on Renshaw cells, leading to convulsions). |
| Sertoli cells | Large, columnar “nurse” cells located within the seminiferous tubules of the testes, providing support and nourishment to developing sperm cells | Crucial for spermatogenesis, forming the blood-testis barrier, and secreting hormones like anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and androgen-binding protein. According to ScienceDirect.com they are one of the two types of cells in the germinal epithelium. |
