Candidate markers for stem and early progenitor cells, Musashi-1 and Hes1, are expressed in crypt base columnar cells of mouse small intestine.
Musashi-1, a neural RNA-binding protein, is important for maintaining neural stem cells. Both Musashi-1 and Hes1, a transcriptional factor regulated by Musashi-1, are expressed in the small intestine. Here we show that Musashi-1 is present in a few epithelial cells just above the Paneth cells in the small intestinal crypt, the putative position of stem cells, whereas Hes1 is expressed in lower crypt cells just above the Paneth cells, including Musashi-1-positive cells. Musashi-1 and Hes1 were not expressed in Paneth cells. Notably, Musashi-1 and Hes1 were coexpressed in the crypt base columnar cells located between the Paneth cells. These findings suggest that not only the cells just above Paneth cells but also the crypt base columnar cells between the Paneth cells have stem cell characteristics.
Kayahara
Takahisa
T
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Sawada
Mitsutaka
M
Takaishi
Shigeo
S
Fukui
Hirokazu
H
Seno
Hiroshi
H
Fukuzawa
Hiroaki
H
Suzuki
Katsumasa
K
Hiai
Hiroshi
H
Kageyama
Ryoichiro
R
Okano
Hideyuki
H
Chiba
Tsutomu
T
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D019879:Paneth Cells / Q000166:cytology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C489734:Hes1 protein, mouse; C489735:Hes1 protein, rat; C491297:MSI1 protein, human; C491296:Msi1 protein, rat; C104786:Msi1h protein, mouse; C078493:HES1 protein, human