| First Author | Gross S | Year | 2015 |
| Journal | Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol | Volume | 309 |
| Issue | 12 | Pages | G975-87 |
| PubMed ID | 26492922 | Mgi Jnum | J:311445 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6765060 | Doi | 10.1152/ajpgi.00244.2015 |
| Citation | Gross S, et al. (2015) Nkx2.2 is expressed in a subset of enteroendocrine cells with expanded lineage potential. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 309(12):G975-87 |
| abstractText | There are two major stem cell populations in the intestinal crypt region that express either Bmi1 or Lgr5; however, it has been shown that other populations in the crypt can regain stemness. In this study, we demonstrate that the transcription factor NK2 homeobox 2 (Nkx2.2) is expressed in enteroendocrine cells located in the villus and crypt of the intestinal epithelium and is coexpressed with the stem cell markers Bmi1 and Lgr5 in a subset of crypt cells. To determine whether Nkx2.2-expressing enteroendocrine cells display cellular plasticity and stem cell potential, we performed genetic lineage tracing of the Nkx2.2-expressing population using Nkx2.2(Cre/+);R26RTomato mice. These studies demonstrated that Nkx2.2+ cells are able to give rise to all intestinal epithelial cell types in basal conditions. The proliferative capacity of Nkx2.2-expressing cells was also demonstrated in vitro using crypt organoid cultures. Injuring the intestine with irradiation, systemic inflammation, and colitis did not enhance the lineage potential of Nkx2.2-expressing cells. These findings demonstrate that a rare mature enteroendocrine cell subpopulation that is demarcated by Nkx2.2 expression display stem cell properties during normal intestinal epithelial homeostasis, but is not easily activated upon injury. |
