Updates of interstitial Cajal-like cell of biliary tract

Interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC) is a kind of special interstitial cell in the gastrointestinal tract, which has close connection with the smooth muscle cells and neuron cells. It is involved in gastrointestinal motility and nerve signal transduction and is considered as the pacemaker cell of slow wave of gastrointestinal tract. ICC which exists in the non-gastrointestinal organs such as biliary tract, urethra, bladder and so on is named interstitial Cajal-like cell (ICLC). This article will review the progress in the research of ICLC in the biliary system in terms of their morphology, identification, classification, function, distribution and related biliary diseases. Key words: Interstitial Cajal-like cell; Biliary tract; Biliary tract diseases