title: Gastrointestinal stem cells. II. Intestinal stem cells.
abstract: Current views of the identity, distribution, and regulation of small intestinal epithelial stem cells and their immediate progeny are discussed. Recent works implicating Wnt signaling in stem and progenitor proliferation, the involvement of Notch signaling in epithelial lineage specification, and the role of hedgehog and bone morphogenetic protein families in crypt formation are integrated. We had the good fortune that many of these papers came in pairs from independent groups. We attempt to identify points of agreement, reinterpret each in the context of the other, and indicate directions for continued progress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Clinical Science Division, Medical Sciences Bldg., Univ. of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8. matthew.bjerknes@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bjerknes
authors.forename: Hazel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins