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A contemporary snapshot of intestinal stem cells and their regulation

  • Ryo Seishima
  • , Nick Barker

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) marked by Lgr5 are located at the bottom of the epithelial crypt compartment. Canonical Wnt signaling, activated by Wnt/Rspo ligands, determines the stem cell identity of Lgr5 + ISCs and is strictly regulated by the ISC niche. Emerging evidence indicates that both epithelial and stromal compartments provide the requisite Wnt/Rspo ligands, confining the ISC niche to the lower crypt regions of the intestine. Recent studies have also shown that the ISC niche can reprogram differentiated cells to replenish lost ISCs following tissue injury, accounting for the epithelial cell plasticity within the crypt compartment. Here we review these recent advances and discuss the role of canonical Wnt signaling in maintaining homeostasis and effecting cell plasticity following tissue injury in the intestine, which could reveal potential novel therapeutic opportunities in the clinic.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3-7
Number of pages5
JournalDifferentiation
Volume108
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019 Jul 1
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • Intestinal stem cell
  • Stem cell niche
  • Wnt signaling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

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