title: Mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase (mTert) expression marks slowly cycling intestinal stem cells.
abstract: The intestinal epithelium is maintained by a population of rapidly cycling (Lgr5(+)) intestinal stem cells (ISCs). It has been postulated, however, that slowly cycling ISCs must also be present in the intestine to protect the genome from accumulating deleterious mutations and to allow for a response to tissue injury. Here, we identify a subpopulation of slowly cycling ISCs marked by mouse telomerase reverse transcriptase (mTert) expression that can give rise to Lgr5(+) cells. mTert-expressing cells distribute in a pattern along the crypt-villus axis similar to long-term label-retaining cells (LRCs) and are resistant to tissue injury. Lineage-tracing studies demonstrate that mTert(+) cells give rise to all differentiated intestinal cell types, persist long term, and contribute to the regenerative response following injury. Consistent with other highly regenerative tissues, our results demonstrate that a slowly cycling stem cell population exists within the intestine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Carlone
authors.forename: Camilla A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farilla
authors.forename: Mariette E G
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kranendonk
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Nana Yaa
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Baffour-Awuah
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ambruzs
authors.forename: Laura K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Fogli
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Algra
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Breault
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C493597:Lgr5 protein, mouse; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D019098:Telomerase; C509187:Tert protein, mouse