Click here to close Hello! We notice that you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Xenbase and may cause the site to display incorrectly. We suggest using a current version of Chrome, FireFox, or Safari.
XB-ART-51656
Cell Biosci 2015 Jan 01;5:74. doi: 10.1186/s13578-015-0065-3.
Show Gene links Show Anatomy links

Molecular and cytological analyses reveal distinct transformations of intestinal epithelial cells during Xenopus metamorphosis.

Okada M , Wen L , Miller TC , Su D , Shi YB .


???displayArticle.abstract???
BACKGROUND: The thyroid hormone (T3)-induced formation of adult intestine during amphibian metamorphosis resembles the maturation of the mammalian intestine during postembryonic development, the period around birth when plasma T3 level peaks. This process involves de novo formation of adult intestinal stem cells as well as the removal of the larval epithelial cells through apoptosis. Earlier studies have revealed a number of cytological and molecular markers for the epithelial cells undergoing different changes during metamorphosis. However, the lack of established double labeling has made it difficult to ascertain the identities of the metamorphosing epithelial cells. RESULTS: Here, we carried out different double-staining with a number of cytological and molecular markers during T3-induced and natural metamorphosis in Xenopus laevis. Our studies demonstrated conclusively that the clusters of proliferating cells in the epithelium at the climax of metamorphosis are undifferentiated epithelial cells and express the well-known adult intestinal stem cell marker gene Lgr5. We further show that the adult stem cells and apoptotic larval epithelial cells are distinct epithelial cells during metamorphosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that morphologically identical larval epithelial cells choose two alternative paths: programmed cell death or dedifferentiation to form adult stem cells, in response to T3 during metamorphosis with apoptosis occurring prior to the formation of the proliferating adult stem cell clusters (islets).

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 26719790
???displayArticle.pmcLink??? PMC4696227
???displayArticle.link??? Cell Biosci


Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: fabp2 lgr5


???attribute.lit??? ???displayArticles.show???
References [+] :
Al-Nafussi, Cell kinetics in the mouse small intestine during immediate postnatal life. 1982, Pubmed