Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2013; 19(29): 4671-4678
Published online Aug 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i29.4671
Update on small intestinal stem cells
Valentina Tesori, Maria Ausiliatrice Puglisi, Wanda Lattanzi, Giovanni Battista Gasbarrini, Antonio Gasbarrini
Valentina Tesori, Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00197 Rome, Italy
Valentina Tesori, Maria Ausiliatrice Puglisi, Antonio Gasbarrini, Department of Internal Medicine, Gemelli Hospital, 00168 Rome, Italy
Wanda Lattanzi, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
Giovanni Battista Gasbarrini, Medical Research Foundation ONLUS, Galleria Falcone Borsellino 2, 40123 Bologna, Italy
Author contributions: Tesori V and Puglisi MA contributed equally to this work; Tesori V, Puglisi MA and Gasbarrini A contributed to the article design, writing and revision; Lattanzi W and Gasbarrini GB contributed to the literature research and revision; all authors approved the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Valentina Tesori, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00197 Rome, Italy. valentina.tesori@libero.it
Telephone: +39-6-30156018 Fax: +39-6-30157249
Received: January 30, 2013
Revised: April 18, 2013
Accepted: May 7, 2013
Published online: August 7, 2013
Processing time: 187 Days and 15.1 Hours
Abstract

Among somatic stem cells, those residing in the intestine represent a fascinating and poorly explored research field. Particularly, somatic stem cells reside in the small intestine at the level of the crypt base, in a constant balance between self-renewal and differentiation. Aim of the present review is to delve into the mechanisms that regulate the delicate equilibrium through which intestinal stem cells orchestrate intestinal architecture. To this aim, special focus will be addressed to identify the integrating signals from the surrounding niche, supporting a model whereby distinct cell populations facilitate homeostatic vs injury-induced regeneration.

Keywords: Intestinal stem cells; Organoids; Intestinal regeneration; Lgr5; Niche

Core tip: Among somatic stem cells, those residing in the intestine represent a fascinating and poorly explored research field. Aim of the present review is to delve into the mechanisms that regulate the delicate equilibrium through which intestinal stem cells orchestrate intestinal architecture, integrating signals from the surrounding niche and supports a model whereby distinct cell populations facilitate homeostatic vs injury-induced regeneration.