stellatceller

Stellate cells, or stellatceller, is a term used for several distinct cell types in different organs that share a star-shaped morphology. The common feature is processes radiating from a small cell body, giving a stellate (star-like) appearance.

In the central nervous system, stellate cells refer to a class of interneurons with a star-shaped dendritic arbor. Cortical stellate cells are found mainly in certain layers of the cerebral cortex and participate in local cortical circuits, while cerebellar stellate cells reside in the molecular layer and function as inhibitory interneurons. Retinal and other CNS stellate cells are similarly named, and their precise roles vary by region, but they generally contribute to modulation and integration of neural activity within local networks.

Hepatic stellate cells (also called Ito cells) are perisinusoidal cells located in the liver, in the space of Disse between hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelium. They store vitamin A in lipid droplets when quiescent. Upon liver injury or chronic inflammation, they become activated to a myofibroblast-like phenotype that produces extracellular matrix, contributing to fibrosis and, in advanced disease, cirrhosis.

Pancreatic stellate cells reside in the pancreas and play a key role in pancreatic fibrosis. They become activated in inflammatory conditions such as chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, secreting collagen and other matrix components that remodel tissue architecture and can support tumor progression.

Overall, stellate cells are defined by their radial morphology and tissue-specific functions, spanning neural communication, vitamin A storage, and extracellular matrix production in response to injury.