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Article
Nkx2.2 is expressed in a subset of enteroendocrine cells with expanded lineage potential
American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology
  • Stefanie Gross, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • Dina Balderes, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • Jing Liu, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Samuel Asfaha, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • Guoqiang Gu, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Timothy C. Wang, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • Lori Sussel, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2015
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1152/ajpgi.00244.2015
Abstract

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 Nkx2.2Cre/;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.

Citation Information
Stefanie Gross, Dina Balderes, Jing Liu, Samuel Asfaha, et al.. "Nkx2.2 is expressed in a subset of enteroendocrine cells with expanded lineage potential" American Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology Vol. 309 Iss. 12 (2015) p. G975 - G987
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/samuel-asfaha/23/