| First Author | Takeda N | Year | 2011 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 334 |
| Issue | 6061 | Pages | 1420-4 |
| PubMed ID | 22075725 | Mgi Jnum | J:178296 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5298119 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1213214 |
| Citation | Takeda N, et al. (2011) Interconversion between intestinal stem cell populations in distinct niches. Science 334(6061):1420-4 |
| abstractText | Intestinal epithelial stem cell identity and location have been the subject of substantial research. Cells in the +4 niche are slow-cycling and label-retaining, whereas a different stem cell niche located at the crypt base is occupied by crypt base columnar (CBC) cells. CBCs are distinct from +4 cells, and the relationship between them is unknown, though both give rise to all intestinal epithelial lineages. We demonstrate that Hopx, an atypical homeobox protein, is a specific marker of +4 cells. Hopx-expressing cells give rise to CBCs and all mature intestinal epithelial lineages. Conversely, CBCs can give rise to +4 Hopx-positive cells. These findings demonstrate a bidirectional lineage relationship between active and quiescent stem cells in their niches. |
