Identification of mouse genes with highly specific expression patterns in differentiated intestinal epithelium.
OBJECTIVE
Few genes that regulate intestinal epithelium development, homeostasis, or function are known. We reasoned that potential candidate regulators of these processes could be identified based on their activation during intestinal epithelium development and their subsequent specific and restricted expression.


METHODS
Genes were identified by differential display and microarray analyses, further selected according to sequence and UniGene expression profiles, and analyzed by RNA in situ hybridization of mouse fetal and adult intestines and in intestinal polyp tissue.


RESULTS
Five genes with unknown physiological function predominantly or exclusively expressed in the intestinal epithelium were identified. Their expression is activated at distinct times during intestinal development and maturation and is maintained in highly specific, spatially distinct patterns in the adult intestinal epithelium. Two of the genes were up-regulated in intestinal tumors, 1 was down-regulated, and 2 were apparently unaltered.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on sequence and expression, the identified genes represent good candidates for regulators of intestinal epithelium integrity or function. Their expression patterns suggest a morphologically not obvious molecular regionalization of the intestinal epithelium along the crypt villus axis. This approach should be an efficient means to identify novel genes required for intestinal epithelium homeostasis and function.
Schröder
Natalia
N
Institute for Molecular Biology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hanover, Germany.
Sekhar
Aravind
A
Geffers
Insa
I
Müller
Julia
J
Dittrich-Breiholz
Oliver
O
Kracht
Michael
M
Wedemeyer
Jochen
J
Gossler
Achim
A
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins
D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; C428528:REG4 protein, human