Cell lineage distribution atlas of the human stomach reveals heterogeneous gland populations in the gastric antrum.
OBJECTIVE
The glands of the stomach body and antral mucosa contain a complex compendium of cell lineages. In lower mammals, the distribution of oxyntic glands and antral glands define the anatomical regions within the stomach. We examined in detail the distribution of the full range of cell lineages within the human stomach.


METHODS
We determined the distribution of gastric gland cell lineages with specific immunocytochemical markers in entire stomach specimens from three non-obese organ donors.


RESULTS
The anatomical body and antrum of the human stomach were defined by the presence of ghrelin and gastrin cells, respectively. Concentrations of somatostatin cells were observed in the proximal stomach. Parietal cells were seen in all glands of the body of the stomach as well as in over 50% of antral glands. MIST1 expressing chief cells were predominantly observed in the body although individual glands of the antrum also showed MIST1 expressing chief cells. While classically described antral glands were observed with gastrin cells and deep antral mucous cells without any parietal cells, we also observed a substantial population of mixed type glands containing both parietal cells and G cells throughout the antrum.


CONCLUSIONS
Enteroendocrine cells show distinct patterns of localisation in the human stomach. The existence of antral glands with mixed cell lineages indicates that human antral glands may be functionally chimeric with glands assembled from multiple distinct stem cell populations.
Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Eunyoung
E
Choi
Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Joseph T
JT
Roland
Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Brittney J
BJ
Barlow
Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Ryan
R
O'Neal
Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Amy E
AE
Rich
Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ki Taek
KT
Nam
Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Chanjuan
C
Shi
Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Nashville VA Medical Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
James R
JR
Goldenring
D019070:Cell Lineage; D019858:Enteroendocrine Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000378:metabolism; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013270:Stomach / Q000166:cytology*
D005755:Gastrins; D054439:Ghrelin; D013004:Somatostatin
Gastric Epithelial Cell FUnction; Gastric Function; Gastric Parietal Cell; Gastric Physiology; Gastrin