Subepithelial telocytes are an important source of Wnts that supports intestinal crypts.

ABSTRACT: Tissues that undergo rapid cellular turnover, such as the mammalian haematopoietic system or the intestinal epithelium, are dependent on stem and progenitor cells that proliferate to provide differentiated cells to maintain organismal health. Stem and progenitor cells, in turn, are thought to rely on signals and growth factors provided by local niche cells to support their function and self-renewal. Several cell types have been hypothesized to provide the signals required for the proliferation and differentiation of the intestinal stem cells in intestinal crypts^1-6. Here we identify subepithelial telocytes as an important source of Wnt proteins, without which intestinal stem cells cannot proliferate and support epithelial renewal. Telocytes are large but rare mesenchymal cells t

SUBMITTER: Shoshkes-Carmel M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5966331 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature