Developmental regulation of intestinal <i>best4</i>+ cells.

ABSTRACT: best4+/CFTR-high expressing cells are a recently described intestinal epithelial cell type potentially altered in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. However, their developmental origin, developmental regulation, and functions remain undefined. This study identifies their conserved transcriptional program and uses zebrafish to dissect their developmental regulation in vivo. Lineage tracing identified that best4+ cells arise from atoh1b+ secretory progenitors. We identify that Notch signaling, mediated by dll4, specifies best4+ cells at the expense of enterochromaffin cells. Downstream of Notch, meis1b confers best4+ cell identity. best4+ cells then exhibit regionalized gene expression, regulated by pbx3a. A

SUBMITTER: Sur A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12724568 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature