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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

The 3D Culturing of Organoids from Murine Intestinal Crypts and a Single Stem Cell for Organoid Research
10:39

The 3D Culturing of Organoids from Murine Intestinal Crypts and a Single Stem Cell for Organoid Research

Published on: April 7, 2023

Current view: intestinal stem cells and signaling

David H Scoville1, Toshiro Sato, Xi C He

  • 1Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Gastroenterology
|March 8, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Two types of intestinal stem cells, actively cycling and quiescent, likely exist in different microenvironments, regulating gut development and homeostasis. Signaling pathways like Wnt and Notch are crucial for their function.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Signaling pathways (Wnt, BMP, PI3K, Notch) are vital for intestinal development and homeostasis.
  • The precise location and nature of intestinal stem cells remain debated.
  • Recent studies suggest both crypt-based columnar cells and +4 position label-retaining cells may be stem cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a unified model for intestinal stem cell regulation.
  • To reconcile conflicting evidence regarding stem cell location.
  • To review the roles of key signaling pathways in intestinal stem cell function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on mouse intestinal development and stem cell biology.
  • Analysis of evidence supporting different putative intestinal stem cell populations.
  • Synthesis of findings on signaling pathway involvement.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports two distinct intestinal stem cell populations: actively cycling crypt-based columnar cells and quiescent +4 position cells.
  • These populations likely represent the same stem cells in different functional states.
  • Interactions with distinct microenvironments may maintain these different states.

Conclusions:

  • Intestinal stem cell function is regulated by distinct populations in different microenvironmental niches.
  • Key signaling pathways (Wnt, BMP, PI3K, Notch) play critical roles in maintaining intestinal homeostasis.
  • A unified model encompassing both cell types provides a more comprehensive understanding of intestinal stem cell regulation.

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