Molecular and cellular biology of small intestinal differentiation, gene expression and hormonal responses.
Many recent publications have looked at the function of the small intestine at the molecular and cellular level. Hundreds of genes are expressed predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract and many are found in only one segment. The developmental interactions between mesenchymal and epithelial cells are now better understood, as are the processes that determine the fate of the products of the stem cell division. The pattern of the principal transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes in the intestine is becoming clearer. The mechanism of action of hormones and growth factors on the intestine is the subject of considerable research, especially concerning the glucagon-like peptides and epidermal growth factor. Genomic factors, which can affect nutritional requirements by altering intestinal function, will be increasingly recognized.
Walters
Julian R F
JR
Gastroenterology Section, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom. julian.waltes@ic.ac.uk