Requirement of Math1 for Secretory Cell Lineage Commitment in the Mouse Intestine

Q Yang, NA Bermingham, MJ Finegold, HY Zoghbi - Science, 2001 - science.org
Q Yang, NA Bermingham, MJ Finegold, HY Zoghbi
Science, 2001science.org
The mouse small intestinal epithelium consists of four principal cell types deriving from one
multipotent stem cell: enterocytes, goblet, enteroendocrine, and Paneth cells. Previous
studies showed that Math1, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is expressed
in the gut. We find that loss of Math1 leads to depletion of goblet, enteroendocrine, and
Paneth cells without affecting enterocytes. Colocalization of Math1 with Ki-67 in some
proliferating cells suggests that secretory cells (goblet, enteroendocrine, and Paneth cells) …
The mouse small intestinal epithelium consists of four principal cell types deriving from one multipotent stem cell: enterocytes, goblet, enteroendocrine, and Paneth cells. Previous studies showed that Math1, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is expressed in the gut. We find that loss ofMath1 leads to depletion of goblet, enteroendocrine, and Paneth cells without affecting enterocytes. Colocalization ofMath1 with Ki-67 in some proliferating cells suggests that secretory cells (goblet, enteroendocrine, and Paneth cells) arise from a common progenitor that expresses Math1, whereas absorptive cells (enterocytes) arise from a progenitor that isMath1-independent. The continuous rapid renewal of these cells makes the intestinal epithelium a model system for the study of stem cell regeneration and lineage commitment.
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