Long-lived keratin 15+ esophageal progenitor cells contribute to homeostasis and regeneration.

ABSTRACT: The esophageal lumen is lined by a stratified squamous epithelium comprised of proliferative basal cells that differentiate while migrating toward the luminal surface and eventually desquamate. Rapid epithelial renewal occurs, but the specific cell of origin that supports this high proliferative demand remains unknown. Herein, we have described a long-lived progenitor cell population in the mouse esophageal epithelium that is characterized by expression of keratin 15 (Krt15). Genetic in vivo lineage tracing revealed that the Krt15 promoter marks a long-lived basal cell population able to self-renew, proliferate, and generate differentiated cells, consistent with a progenitor/stem cell population. Transcriptional profiling demonstrated that Krt15+ basal cells are molecularly distinct from K

SUBMITTER: Giroux V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5451220 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature