Login to your account
Don’t have an account?
Create a Free Account
Basic and Translational Advances in Epithelial and Stem Cell Biology
Natural Selection, Crypt Fitness, and Pol III Dependency in the Intestine
The intestinal epithelium is a rapidly self-renewing tissue. The enormous replicative burden is borne by stem cells, which in mice divide approximately once a day, and by the transit-amplifying compartment, where cells replicate 2–3 times more frequently. Because the continual production of many new cells creates substantial demands, the intestine of conditional mutant mice is an ideal organ to examine tissue-specific functions of pervasive housekeeping factors.The Gastric Epithelium: Slow Starter in the Stem Cell/Lineage Specification Stakes?
Stem cell dynamics and lineage specification form the basis of the understanding of the generation of metaplastic and neoplastic states in the gut. Although our knowledge in the intestine has raced ahead, the stomach lags behind. Here, we highlight some of the problems.The Paneth Cell: A Guardian of Gut Health
The article by Podany et al1 in the current issue of Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology makes observations that significantly advance our understanding of Paneth cells and zinc transporters in maintenance of a healthy gut barrier and microbiota of the small intestine. Paneth cells secrete large quantities of antimicrobial enzymes, cytokines, and hormones, and are found in increasing numbers in the ileum, the section of the small intestine with the most microbes. Paneth cells contain relatively large amounts of zinc in secretory granules and it is speculated that this zinc allows for optimal stabilization and function of these secreted macromolecules.Glial Orchestrated Neurodegeneration: An Important Crossroad for Neural Stem Cell Therapy to the Intestine
Conventional wisdom teaches us that glia protect neurons in the human body. For more than a century, physicians and scientists have argued that glia provide the fundamental infrastructure and life support to neurons, without which the brain and intestine rapidly transcend into chaos. But what if popular consensus is wrong and our glial chaperones secretly monitor for epigenetic clues that determine whether a neuron will live or die? In this issue of Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2 independent reports provide new mechanistic insight into how enteric neurons survive during intestinal inflammation and after neural stem cell therapy.
The content on this site is intended for healthcare professionals.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. except certain content provided by third parties.
