Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Characterization of Telocytes in Normal and Diabetic Human Kidneys.

: Telocytes are interstitial stromal cells identified in various human organs, including the kidney. Their presence and role in human diabetic kidney disease remain unknown. : To identify and localize telocytes in glomerular and tubule-interstitial compartments, both normal and diabetic human renal tissues were examined using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy.