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Molecular Basis of Intestinal Epithelial Stem Cell Specification, Maintenance and Differentiation

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 4157

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles ULB, Brussels, Belgium
Interests: intestinal stem cells; embryonic intestinal stem cell progenitors; LGR receptors; GPCRs and metabolic control; regeneration of intestinal epithelium

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Guest Editor
Institute for Molecular Medicine and Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Interests: stem cells; chromatin and gene regulation; signaling; enteroendocrine cells
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Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

We welcome submissions of your latest research for a special issue: Molecular Basis of Intestinal Epithelial Stem Cell Specification, Maintenance and Differentiation. The small intestine has many vital functions, including absorption of nutrients, secretion of hormones and barrier in host defence against microorganisms. These functions of the small intestine depend on the correct specification and maintenance of differentiated epithelial cells. The continuous renewal of the epithelium is supported by Intestinal Stem Cells (ISCs). We know relatively well genetic factors that control self-renewal and differentiation of ISC population in homeostasis. Yet, we do not know whether each ISC responds equally to the differentiation stimuli. Moreover, the molecular events that control de-differentiation and proliferation of the intestinal epithelium upon injury are unclear. Recent studies demonstrated that reciprocal interactions between ISCs and immune cells are essential for tissue repair without excessive proliferation. There are strong links between the regeneration of intestinal epithelium, diet-derived nutrients, gut microbiota and their metabolites. However, the mechanisms underlying these correlations are not well established. This special issue focuses on the molecular mechanisms regulating intestinal stem cell functions in homeostasis and disease. We invite both original research articles and topical reviews.

Dr. Marie-Isabelle Garcia
Dr. Natalia Soshnikova
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • intestinal stem cell
  • microenvironment
  • functional heterogeneity
  • inflammation
  • microbiota
  • metabolism
  • cancer
  • signalling
  • epigenetics

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

14 pages, 653 KiB  
Review
Taking a Step Back: Insights into the Mechanisms Regulating Gut Epithelial Dedifferentiation
by Shaida Ouladan and Alex Gregorieff
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 7043; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22137043 - 30 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3278
Abstract
Despite the environmental constraints imposed upon the intestinal epithelium, this tissue must perform essential functions such as nutrient absorption and hormonal regulation, while also acting as a critical barrier to the outside world. These functions depend on a variety of specialized cell types [...] Read more.
Despite the environmental constraints imposed upon the intestinal epithelium, this tissue must perform essential functions such as nutrient absorption and hormonal regulation, while also acting as a critical barrier to the outside world. These functions depend on a variety of specialized cell types that are constantly renewed by a rapidly proliferating population of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) residing at the base of the crypts of Lieberkühn. The niche components and signals regulating crypt morphogenesis and maintenance of homeostatic ISCs have been intensely studied over the last decades. Increasingly, however, researchers are turning their attention to unraveling the mechanisms driving gut epithelial regeneration due to physical damage or infection. It is now well established that injury to the gut barrier triggers major cell fate changes, demonstrating the highly plastic nature of the gut epithelium. In particular, lineage tracing and transcriptional profiling experiments have uncovered several injury-induced stem-cell populations and molecular markers of the regenerative state. Despite the progress achieved in recent years, several questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding the mechanisms driving dedifferentiation of the gut epithelium. In this review, we summarize the latest studies, primarily from murine models, that define the regenerative processes governing the gut epithelium and discuss areas that will require more in-depth investigation. Full article
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