• International Journal of Stem Cells
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.213-223
• /
• 2024

Tissue-specific adult stem cells are pivotal in maintaining tissue homeostasis, especially in the rapidly renewing intestinal epithelium. At the heart of this process are leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-expressing crypt base columnar cells (CBCs) that differentiate into various intestinal epithelial cells. However, while these CBCs are vital for tissue turnover, they are vulnerable to cytotoxic agents. Recent advances indicate that alternative stem cell sources drive the epithelial regeneration post-injury. Techniques like lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, combined with in vitro organoid systems, highlight the remarkable cellular adaptability of the intestinal epithelium during repair. These regenerative responses are mediated by the reactivation of conserved stem cells, predominantly quiescent stem cells and revival stem cells. With focus on these cells, this review unpacks underlying mechanisms governing intestinal regeneration and explores their potential clinical applications.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.31-41
• /
• 2001

The intestinal histopathology and in situ postures of Gymnophalloides seoi (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) were studied using C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mice as experimental hosts; the effects of immunosuppression were also observed. The metacercariae isolated from naturally infected oysters, 300 or 1,000 in number, were infected orally to each mouse, and the mice were killed at days 3-21 post-infection (PI). In immunocompetent (IC) mice, only a small number of flukes were found in the mucosa of the duodenum and jejunum during days 3-7 PI, with their large oral suckers pinching and sucking the root of villi. The intestinal mucosa showed mild villous atrophy crypt hyperplasia, and inflammations in the villous stroma and crypt, with remarkable goblet cell hyperplasia. These mucosal changes were almost restored after days 14-21 PI. In immunosuppressed (IS) mice. displacement as well as complete loss of villi adjacent to the flukes was frequently encountered, otherwise the histopathology was generally mild, with minimal goblet cell hyperplasia. In these mice, numerous flukes were found, and it seemed that they were actively moving and rotating in situ. Several flukes were found to have invaded into the submucosa, almost facing the serosa. These results indicate that in IC mice the intestinal histopathology caused by G. seoi is generally mild, and the flukes do not penetrate beyond the mucosa, however, in IS mice. the flukes can cause severe destruction of neighboring villi. and some of them invade into the submucosa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.63-69
• /
• 2003

Ten barrows, weaned at 28 days (7.2$\pm$0.1 kg BW), were used to evaluate the effects of feeding extruded full-fat soybeans on intestinal morphology and mucosal cell turnover time. All pigs were fed corn-based diets with half of the pigs receiving diets supplemented with 15.5% soybean meal and 3% soybean oil and the remaining pigs fed a diet in which the soybean meal and oil were replaced by 18.5% extruded full-fat soybeans. The pigs were individually placed in $80{\times}150cm$ metabolic cages and fed twice daily an amount approximately equal to their ad libitum intake for a period of 14 days. On day 14, pigs were weighed and then injected intraperitoneally with $^3$H]thymidine ($100{\mu}Ci/kg$ of BW, specific activity 20 Ci/mmol) 6 h after the morning meal. A pig from each treatment was killed 1, 4, 8, 16, or 24 h postinjection and intestinal tissues were collected. Daily gains for pigs fed the soybean diet and extruded full-fat soybean diet were 0.24 and 0.31 kg/day (p=0.05) with feed conversions of 1.58 and 1.39 (p=0.05), respectively. In comparison with pigs fed soybean meal, pigs fed moist extruded full-fat soybeans had a decreased crypt depth in their duodenum and cecum (p<0.1), while the villus height in the mid jejunum and ileum and the total height (villus height plus crypt depth) of the ileum and mid jejunum increased (p<0.05). The villus width in the duodenum and mid jejunum decreased (p<0.05). The number of crypt epithelial cells in the upper jejunum increased but decreased in the ileum, colon and cecum (p<0.05). The number of villus epithelial cells in the ileum and the upper and mid jejunum increased (p<0.05). The time for migration of epithelial cells in the crypt-villus column decreased (p<0.05) in all sites except the upper jejunum, ileum and cecum. The mucosal turnover rate for all intestinal sites except the upper jejunum, colon and cecum decreased (p<0.05). From these data, we conclude that inclusion of moist extruded full-fat soybeans in weanling pig diets can improve the intestinal morphology and slow the migration rate and turnover time of epithelial cells of the small intestine, especially in the mid jejunum compared with soybean meal.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.679-685
• /
• 1998

We have studied, by a nonisotopic in situ DNA end-labeling (ISEL) technique, frequency of apoptosis in the external granular layer (EGL) of the cerebellum after whole-body irradiation of newborn mice and intestinal crypt cell of adult mice by gamma-rays from $^{60}Co$. The extent of changes following 2 Gy(10.9 Gy/min) was studied at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, or 24h after exposure. The maximal frequency was found 4-8h after exposure. The mice that received 0.18, 0.36, 0.54, 1.08, 1.98, or 3.96 Gy were examined 6h after irradiation. Measurements performed after irradiation showed a dose-related increase in apoptotic cells in each of the mice studied. The dose-response curves were analyzed by a linear-quadratic model; frequency(%) of apoptotic cell in the newborn mice cerebellum was ($13.49{\pm}1.175$)D+$(-1.52{\pm}0.334)D^2$+0.048($r^2=0.981$, D = dose in Gy) and frequency(number per crypt) of apoptotic cell in the intestinal crypt of adult mice was ($3.857{\pm}0.420$)D+$(-0.535{\pm}0.120)D^2$+0.155($r^2=0.952$, D = dose in Gy). It provides the basis required for a better understanding of results which will be obtained in any further studies for biological responses of radiation using newborn and adult mice.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.457-464
• /
• 2005

The irradiation of radioactive ${\gamma}-ray$ induces apoptosis of radiosensitive organs for homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the repair mechanisms for homeostasis in the small intestine after cell damage by $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}-ray$ irradiation. The apoptosis was most frequently observed in the crypt cells of the small intestine after four and six hours by radioactive ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation, and the frequency of apoptosis was proportional to the amount of irradiation. Also, the number of apoptotic cells was coincident with expression pattern of p53. Interestingly, PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) which is engaged in DNA replication and repair was expressed in apoptotic cells of small intestinal crypts. Also, it was observed that cell-cycle regulator p21 which is known to induce cell-cycle arrest is co-expressed in the same apoptotic cells of irradiated small intestinal crypt cells. These findings suggest that the co-expression of PCNA and p21 proteins, which may lead to resistance to DNA damage through cell-cycle arrest is closely associated with repair of damaged gastrointestinal cells after ${\gamma}-ray$ irradiation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.273-280
• /
• 2014

The changing patterns of goblet cell hyperplasia, intestinal epithelial cell turnover, and intestinal motility were studied in ICR and C57BL/6 mice infected with Gymnophalloides seoi (Digenea: Gymnophallidae). Whereas ICR mice retained G. seoi worms until day 7 post-infection (PI), C57BL/6 mice showed a rapid worm expulsion within day 3 PI. Immunosuppression with Depo-Medrol significantly delayed the worm expulsion in C57BL/6 mice. Goblet cell counts were increased in both strains of mice, peaking at day 1 PI in C57BL/6 mice and slowly increasing until day 7 PI in ICR mice. In C57BL/6 mice infected with G. seoi, newly proliferating intestinal epithelial cells were remarkably increased in the crypt, and the increase was the highest at day 1 PI. However, in ICR mice, newly proliferating intestinal epithelial cells increased slowly from day 1 to day 7 PI. Intestinal motility was increased in G. seoi-infected mice, and its chronological pattern was highly correlated with the worm load in both strains of mice. Meanwhile, immunosuppression of C57BL/6 mice abrogated the goblet cell proliferation, reduced the epithelial cell proliferation, and suppressed the intestinal motility. Goblet cell hyperplasia, increased intestinal epithelial cell turnover, and increased intestinal motility should be important mucosal defense mechanisms in G. seoi-infected C57BL/6 mice.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.718-722
• /
• 2008

Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus (E.S.), which contains 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG), is reported to have the ability to scavenge oxygen radicals, thereby protecting rat neuronal cells from oxidative damage. The potential of an E.S. extract, which contains a rich PGG, to protect radiosensitive lymphocytes and intestinal crypt cells from radiation injury induced by a single whole-body irradiation (WBI) in vivo was investigated. Our results demonstrated that in immune cells, E.S. treatment decreased the percent of tail DNA, a parameter of DNA damage, compared with levels in untreated, irradiated controls. Furthermore, apoptosis was significantly decreased in lymphocytes and intestinal crypt cells of E.S.-treated mice compared with irradiated controls. These results suggest that the E.S. extract can strengthen the radioresistance of radiosensitive lymphocytes and crypt cells by preventing apoptosis. Therefore, it was concluded that E.S. extract has the radioprotective effects in vivo through an inhibition of apoptosis.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.478-487
• /
• 1994

The developmental changes of three enteroendocrine cells, i.e. gastrln, somatostatin and serotonin, of gastric and small intestinal mucosa in pre- and postnatal rat were examined by peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method. In the course of development, gastrin cells were obsenred in the pyloric gland region and the whole part of small intestine, while somstostatin and serotonin cells in the whole gastric gland region and small intestine. More entroendocrine cells were detected in the pyloric gland region and duodenum than in the other portion. In the stomach, gastrin, somatostatin and serotonin ceils were first obsenred in the pyloric Bland region on 17, 19 and 19 days of gestation respectively. The small intestinal gastrin and serotonin cells were first appeared in the duodenum and iriunum on 17 and 15 days of gestation respectively, and somatostBtin cells in duodenum on 17 days of gestation. The number of cells examined from the stomach were increased from fetal to weanling period and showed a decrease during adult period: the notable increase was shown at the end of suckling period or at early weanling period. The cells of the small intestine increased from fetal to suckling period, especially, these cells markedly increased at the end of fetal period or at early suckling period, and decreased from weanling period. The shape of these cells was oval or fusiform during fetal period. In the stomach, most of gastrin cells turned out to be oval and open-type from suckling period, while the remaining two tripes of cells were oval and open- or closed-type. In the small intestine, 311%Ves of cells examined were changed to fusiform and open-type from the end of fetal period. Three types of cell were distributed over the stratified epithelium on 15 and 17 days of gestation. In the stomach, these cells were distributed lower gastric pit and gland from the following fetal period, and were detected mainly on the upper part of gland from suckling period, and then obsenred on the whole part of gland. In the small intestine, most of cells distributed over only between epithelium of villi on 19 days of gestation, increased in number on the crypt from following fetal period, and also observed abundantly in the crypt at adult period.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.259-264
• /
• 2001

Purpose : We investigated the temporal alterations of apoptosis and mitotic death following irradiation in the rat's small intestinal crypts. Materials and methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were irradiated 2 Gy by 6 MV linear accelerator and sacrified at 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 hours after irradiation. The mean numbers of the apoptotic cells and mitotic cells per their small intestinal crypts were measured in the unirradiated control and irradiated groups. To compare with H & E staining, ISEL (In Situ End Labelling) were peformed in the group having the highest apoptotic count. Results : The mean number of the apoptosis per crypt in the control group was 0.14 and those at 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 hours after irradiation were 1.43, 3.19, 1.15, 0.26, 0.17, respectively. So the apoptosis development was increased upto 4 hours and then normalized around 24 hours following irradiation. The mean number of the mitotic cells per crypt in the control group was 1.29 and those at 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 hours after irradiation were 0.56, 0.47, 0.23, 0.65, 1.19, respectively. The mitotic cell counts following irradiation was decreased to 8 hours and recovered to the normal level about 48 hours. So the increment of apoptotic cell count was occurred earlier and more remarkable than the decrement of mitotic cell count after irradiation. According to the staining time, false positivity was found in the ISEL staining. Conclusions : The cell death in the small intestinal crypt developed by acute radiation damage was usually decreased to the normal level within $24\~48\;hours$ after irradiation and the apoptosis was thought to be more important process than the mitotic death.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5331-5339
• /
• 2013

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death, both in men and women. This study investigated the effects of Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber methanolic extract (ACME) on aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation, colonic cell proliferation, lipid peroxidative damage and the antioxidant status in a long term preclinical model of 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) induced colon carcinogenesis in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups, viz., group I rats served as controls; group II rats treated as drug controls receiving 250 mg/kg body weight of ACME orally; group III rats received DMH (20 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously once a week for the first 15 weeks; groups IV, V and VI rats received ACME along with DMH during the initiation, post-initiation stages and the entire period of the study, respectively. All the rats were sacrificed at the end of 30 weeks and the intestinal and colonic tissues from different groups were subjected to biochemical and histological studies. Administration of DMH resulted in significant ($p{\leq}0.05$) intestinal and colonic lipid peroxidation (MDA) and reduction of antioxidants such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-Stransferase and reduced glutathione. Whereas the supplementation of ACME significantly ($p{\leq}0.05$) improved the intestinal and colonic MDA and reduced glutathione levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in DMH intoxicated rats. ACME administration also significantly suppressed the formation and multiplicity of ACF. In addition, the DMH administered rats showed amplified expression of PCNA in the colon and decreased expression of this proliferative marker was clearly noted with initiation, post-initiation and entire period of ACME treatment regimens. These results indicate that ACME could exert a significant chemopreventive effect on colon carcinogenesis induced by DMH.