MetaTOC stay on top of your field, easily

Nkx2.2 is expressed in a subset of enteroendocrine cells with expanded lineage potential

, , , , , ,

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology

Published online on

Abstract

There are two major stem cell populations in the intestinal crypt region that express either Bmi1 or Lgr5; however, it has been shown that other populations in the crypt can regain stemness. In this study, we demonstrate that the transcription factor Nkx2.2 is expressed in enteroendocrine cells located in the villus and crypt of the intestinal epithelium and is co-expressed with the stem cell markers Bmi1 and Lgr5 in a subset of crypt cells. To determine whether Nkx2.2-expressing enteroendocrine cells display cellular plasticity and stem cell potential, we performed genetic lineage-tracing of the Nkx2.2-expressing population using Nkx2.2Cre/+;R26RTomato mice. These studies demonstrated that Nkx2.2+ cells are able to give rise to all intestinal epithelial cell types in basal conditions. The proliferative capacity of Nkx2.2-expressing cells was also demonstrated in vitro using crypt organoid cultures. Injuring the intestine with irradiation, systemic inflammation and colitis did not enhance the lineage potential of Nkx2.2-expressing cells. These findings demonstrate that a rare mature enteroendocrine cell subpopulation that is demarcated by Nkx2.2 expression, display stem cell properties during normal intestinal epithelial homeostasis, but is not easily activated upon injury.