The Intestinal Stem Cell Niche: A Central Role for Foxl1-Expressing Subepithelial Telocytes

The columnar epithelium of the alimentary tract, extending from stomach to colon, is constantly renewed by proliferation of stem and progenitor cells, which give rise to the various differentiated cell types as required by the regional specification of the gut tube. Proliferation occurs in specific zones, which in the intestine form crypts that reach into the underlying stroma. Cellular replication in the crypt is supported by an intestinal stem cell niche, the identity of which has long been controversial. Multiple recent studies have identified subepithelial telocytes, marked by expression of the winged helix transcription factor Foxl1 and the hedgehog signaling mediator Gli1, as the critical source of pro-proliferative Wnt signals to the stem/progenitor cell compartment. This review attempts to summarize and integrate these findings.