Intestinal Stem Cells Expand After Iliocecal Resection

Houston, Texas -

It is known that subsequent to various types of intestinal surgeries, the remaining tissue compensates by augmentation of the mucosal surface area. In a recent study (Dekaney et al. Expansion of intestinal stem cells associated with long-term adaptation following ileocecal resection in mice. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2007 Sep 13;) it was found that one of the reasons for this increase in mucosal surface area is activation of intestinal stem cells.

The investigators assessed mice at various timepoints after ileocecal resection with the intent of identifying the number of intestinal stem cells. It was demonstrated that early after ileocecal resection increases in crypt depth occurs but that this increase is gone by week 16 postileocecal resection.

Additionally, the number of side positive cell as well as Musashi-1 positive cells increased, suggestive of intestinal stem cell replication.

These data suggest intestinal stem cells may be eligible to join other stem cell types such as hepatic and hematopoietic stem cells in having the ability to expand and serve regenerative functions even in adulthood.