Opposing Wnt signals regulate cervical squamocolumnar homeostasis and emergence of metaplasia.

ABSTRACT: The transition zones of the squamous and columnar epithelia constitute hotspots for the emergence of cancer, often preceded by metaplasia, in which one epithelial type is replaced by another. It remains unclear how the epithelial spatial organization is maintained and how the transition zone niche is remodelled during metaplasia. Here we used single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize epithelial subpopulations and the underlying stromal compartment of endo- and ectocervix, encompassing the transition zone. Mouse lineage tracing, organoid culture and single-molecule RNA in situ hybridizations revealed that the two epithelia derive from separate cervix-resident lineage-specific stem cell populations regulated by opposing Wnt signals from the stroma. Using a mouse model of cervical metaplasia

SUBMITTER: Chumduri C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7878191 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature