Lymphatics and fibroblasts support intestinal stem cells in homeostasis and injury.

TitleLymphatics and fibroblasts support intestinal stem cells in homeostasis and injury.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsGoto N, Goto S, Imada S, Hosseini S, Deshpande V, Yilmaz ÖH
JournalCell Stem Cell
Volume29
Issue8
Pagination1246-1261.e6
Date Published2022 Aug 04
ISSN1875-9777
KeywordsEndothelial Cells, Fibroblasts, Homeostasis, Intestinal Mucosa, Intestines, Stem Cells
Abstract

Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs) depend on niche factors for their proper function. However, the source of these ISC niche factors and how they support ISCs in vivo remain controversial. Here, we report that ISCs depend on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and RSPO3+GREM1+ fibroblasts (RGFs). In the intestine and colon, LECs are surrounded by RGFs and are located near ISCs at the crypt base. Both LECs and RGFs provide the critical ISC niche factor RSPO3 to support ISCs, where RSPO3 loss in both cell types drastically compromises ISC numbers, villi length, and repair after injury. In response to injury, LEC and RGF numbers expand and produce greater amounts of RSPO3 and other growth/angiocrine factors to foster intestinal repair. We propose that LECs represent a novel niche component for ISCs, which together with RGFs serve as the major in vivo RSPO3 source for ISCs in homeostasis and injury-mediated regeneration.

DOI10.1016/j.stem.2022.06.013
Alternate JournalCell Stem Cell
PubMed ID35931033
PubMed Central IDPMC9720889
Grant ListR01 CA245314 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P30 DK043351 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK126545 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA014051 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA257523 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U01 CA250554 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U54 CA224068 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA034992 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA211184 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States