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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
Author Spotlight: Investigating the Effects of Compounds on Intestinal Tissue Using 3D Human Cell Line Models
Published on: September 1, 2023
Expression pattern of Dkk-3, a secreted Wnt pathway inhibitor, in mouse intestinal tissue and three-dimensional
Ken Kataoka1, Yuji Rikitake1, Yuki Ayabe1
1Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Okayama University of Science, Okayama, Japan.
Abstract:
We investigated the expression pattern of Dkk-3, a secreted Wnt pathway inhibitor, in mouse intestinal tissue and three-dimensional cultured Caco-2 spheroids. Dkk-3 was expressed at the bottom of crypts from the mouse small intestine. Human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells expressed Dkk-3 under a semi-confluent condition, but Dkk-3 expression was seen in only some of the Caco-2 cells when the cells were sparse. Caco-2 cells formed hollow spheroids in Matrigel, and the layer-forming cells in the hollow spheroids expressed Dkk-3. Our results demonstrated that Dkk-3 might affect intestinal cells when the fate of stem cells changes.
Insights
Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3), a Wnt pathway inhibitor, is expressed in mouse intestinal crypts and in human Caco-2 cell spheroids. Dkk-3 may influence intestinal stem cell fate during differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- The Wnt signaling pathway is crucial for intestinal development and homeostasis.
- Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3) is a secreted antagonist of the Wnt pathway.
- Understanding Dkk-3 expression patterns can provide insights into intestinal cell regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression pattern of Dkk-3 in mouse intestinal tissue.
- To examine Dkk-3 expression in three-dimensional cultured Caco-2 cell spheroids.
- To explore the potential role of Dkk-3 in intestinal stem cell fate.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of mouse small intestine.
- Culture of Caco-2 cells under varying confluency conditions.
- Three-dimensional spheroid culture of Caco-2 cells in Matrigel.
Main Results:
- Dkk-3 expression was localized to the bottom of crypts in mouse small intestine.
- Human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells expressed Dkk-3, particularly under semi-confluent conditions.
- Layer-forming cells within hollow Caco-2 spheroids expressed Dkk-3.
Conclusions:
- Dkk-3 exhibits a specific expression pattern in the intestinal crypt niche.
- Dkk-3 is expressed in differentiated Caco-2 cells within a 3D spheroid model.
- Dkk-3 may play a role in regulating intestinal cell fate, especially during stem cell differentiation.
