Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Isolating Intestinal Stem Cells from Adult Drosophila Midguts by FACS to Study Stem Cell Behavior During Aging
Published on: December 16, 2014
Suppression of elevated Cdc42 activity promotes the regenerative potential of aged intestinal stem cells
Kodandaramireddy Nalapareddy1, Aishlin Hassan1, Leesa L Sampson1
1Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Abstract:
Homeostasis in the intestinal epithelium is maintained by Lgr5-positive intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located at the base of the crypt. The function of ISCs is reduced upon aging which leads to a decline of regeneration of the intestinal epithelium. We report that aged intestinal crypts present with an elevated activity of the small RhoGTPase Cdc42. Elevation of Cdc42 activity in young animals by genetic means causes premature ISC aging, whereas pharmacological suppression of elevated Cdc42 activity restores organoid formation potential in vitro. Consistent with a critical role of elevated Cdc42 activity in aged ISCs for a reduced regenerative capacity of aged ISCs, suppression of Cdc42 activity in vivo improves crypt regeneration in aged mice. Thus, pharmacological reduction of Cdc42 activity can improve the regeneration of aged intestinal epithelium.
Related Concept Videos
Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells
Role Of Notch Signalling In Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Direct cell-to-cell contact is needed for the activation of Notch signaling. The signal is initiated when a notch ligand binds to a receptor on an adjacent cell, also...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Abnormal Proliferation
Inhibition of Cdk Activity
Adult Stem Cells

