RANK drives structured intestinal epithelial expansion during pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: During reproduction, multiple species such as insects and all mammals undergo extensive physiological and morphological adaptions to ensure health and survival of the mother and optimal development of the offspring. Here we report that the intestinal epithelium undergoes expansion during pregnancy and lactation in mammals. This enlargement of the intestinal surface area results in a novel geometry of expanded villi. Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κΒ (RANK, encoded by TNFRSF11A) and its ligand RANKL were identified as a molecular pathway involved in this villous expansion of the small intestine in vivo in mice and in intestinal mouse and human organoids. Mechanistically, RANK-RANKL protects gut epithelial cells from cell death and controls the intestinal stem cell niche through BMP re

SUBMITTER: Onji M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11666467 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature