Mesenchymal cell contractility regulates villus morphogenesis and intestinal architecture.

ABSTRACT: The large absorptive surface area of the small intestine is imparted by finger-like projections called villi. Villi formation is instructed by stromal-derived clusters of cells which have been proposed to induce epithelial bending through actomyosin contraction. Their functions in the elongation of villi have not been studied. Here, we explored the function of mesenchymal contractility at later stages of villus morphogenesis. We induced contractility specifically in the mesenchyme of the developing intestine through inducible overexpression of the RhoA GTPase activator Arhgef11. This resulted in overgrowth of the clusters through a YAP-mediated increase in cell proliferation. While epithelial bending occurred in the presence of contractile clusters, the resulting villi had architectural de

SUBMITTER: Hinnant TD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11758735 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature