Tissue regeneration in the intestine visualised for the first time
Publication in Nature
Researchers from Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 have succeeded in visualising the mechanisms that regulate tissue regeneration in the intestine. This discovery provides further insights into the function of stem cells.
This is a significant step for regenerative medicine and the treatment of cancer. The research was published this week in .
New cells
In order to repair damage and wear to tissues, many of our organs contain small populations of stem cells which, through cell division, ensure the supply of new young cells. These new cells then specialise in order to perform the tasks of the relevant tissue effectively.
The path from newly formed cell to specialised cell
The path from newly formed cell to specialised cell is precisely coordinated by surrounding cells through the secretion of protein signals.
By shaping a gradient of these signals, the cells obtain instructions as to where they are located in the tissue and which task they must perform.
Visualised for the first time
Researchers led by (Utrecht 木瓜福利影视) and (UMC Utrecht) have recently discovered how one of the most important growth signals for stem cells, the Wnt protein, shapes a gradient in intestinal tissue. Through a small genetic adjustment, the protein-in-action has now been visualised for the first time.
Supplier cells
The results indicate that the Wnt proteins are largely produced by special supplier cells which are located in the vicinity of the stem cells. This creates an optimal local environment (the niche) in which the stem cells thrive.
The Wnt proteins accumulate on the outside of the supplier cell and are transferred to the stem cells through direct cell-to-cell contact. Through cell division in the niche, the accumulated Wnt proteins are then increasingly diluted, so a gradient occurs.
Disruptions to this balance can have serious consequences
The shaped gradient of Wnt proteins is crucial for precise regulation of the balance between the production and breakdown of cells in the tissue. Disruptions to this balance can have serious consequences: too little cell division leads to loss of tissue (degeneration) and too much cell division leads to cancer.
The insights gained by Clevers and Maurice are important for the development of methods to stimulate stem cell activities during tissue repair or to inhibit them in the case of cancer.