{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,7]],"date-time":"2026-03-07T19:36:38Z","timestamp":1772912198906,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,9]],"date-time":"2020-04-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1586390400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Telocytes (TCs) are unique interstitial or stromal cells of mesodermal origin, defined by long cellular extensions called telopodes (Tps) which form a network, connecting them to surrounding cells. TCs were previously found around stem and progenitor cells, and were thought to be most likely involved in local tissue metabolic equilibrium and regeneration. The roles of telocytes are still under scientific scrutiny, with existing studies suggesting they possess various functions depending on their location. Methods: Human myometrium biopsies were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women, telocytes were then investigated in myometrial interstitial cell cultures based on morphological criteria and later prepared for time-lapse microscopy. Semi-analytical and numerical solutions were developed to highlight the geometric characteristics and the behavior of telocytes. Results: Results were gathered in a database which would further allow efficient telocyte tracking and indexing in a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) of digital medical images. Mathematical analysis revealed pivotal information regarding the homogeneity, hardness and resistance of telocytes\u2019 structure. Cellular activity models were monitored in vitro, therefore supporting the creation of databases of telocyte images. Conclusions: The obtained images were analyzed, using segmentation techniques and mathematical models in conjunction with computer simulation, in order to depict TCs behavior in relation to surrounding cells. This paper brings an important contribution to the development of bioinformatics systems by creating software-based telocyte models that could be used both for diagnostic and educational purposes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms21072615","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,9]],"date-time":"2020-04-09T14:42:03Z","timestamp":1586443323000},"page":"2615","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":25,"title":["Simulation and Modeling of Telocytes Behavior in Signaling and Intercellular Communication Processes"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3214-030X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dragos","family":"Cretoiu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania"},{"name":"Alessandrescu-Rusescu National Institute of Mother and Child Health, Fetal Medicine Excellence Research Center, 020395 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3827-9532","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Simona","family":"Roatesi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Applied Informatics, Faculty of Information Systems and Cyber Security, \u201cFerdinand I\u201d Military Technical Academy, 050141 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0890-4376","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ion","family":"Bica","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Computers and Cyber Security, Faculty of Information Systems and Cyber Security, \u201cFerdinand I\u201d Military Technical Academy, 050141 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Cezar","family":"Plesca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Applied Informatics, Faculty of Information Systems and Cyber Security, \u201cFerdinand I\u201d Military Technical Academy, 050141 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Amado","family":"Stefan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Integrated Systems of Aviation and Mechanics, Faculty of Aircraft and Military Vehicles, Technical Military Academy \u201cFerdinand I\u201d, 050141 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Oana","family":"Bajenaru","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Crescendo International, 020103 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carmen Elena","family":"Condrat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Alessandrescu-Rusescu National Institute of Mother and Child Health, Fetal Medicine Excellence Research Center, 020395 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2575-4880","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sanda Maria","family":"Cretoiu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Histology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,4,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2016.11.041","article-title":"Automated quantification of three-dimensional organization of fiber-like structures in biological tissues","volume":"116","author":"Liu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1109\/TBME.1965.4502337","article-title":"A semi-automatic computer-microscope for the analysis of neuronal morphology","volume":"12","author":"Glaser","year":"1965","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. 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