Tcf4 regulates secretory cell fate decisions in the small intestine and colon tumors: insights from transcriptomic, histological, and microbiome analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The canonical Wnt signaling pathway controls the continuous renewal of the intestinal epithelium and the specification of epithelial cell lineages. Tcf4, a nuclear mediator of Wnt signaling, is essential for the differentiation and maintenance of Paneth cells in the small intestine. Its deficiency is associated with reduced expression of key α-defensins, highlighting its role in host-microbe interactions. However, the exact function of Tcf4 in specifying the secretory lineage and its contribution to antimicrobial peptide production remain incompletely understood. Remarkably, α-defensin expression has also been detected in human colon adenomas, where aberrant Wnt signaling is a hallmark. This raises important questions: What is the role of these Paneth-like cells in tumor

SUBMITTER: Janeckova L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11993999 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature