Molecular functions of a novel gene exclusively expressed in esophageal basal cells

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08457
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 53010:Gastroenterology-related
• Research Institution: National Center for Global Health and Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Kawamura Yuki I. 国立研究開発法人国立国際医療研究センター, その他部局等, 室長 (10392391)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 食道扁平上皮 / /幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

No useful markers to identify stem cells in esophageal mucosa have been reported, whereas Lgr5 and Bmi1 were well-known as stem cell markers of stomach and intestine. In addition, previous reports revealed that all esophageal basal cells divide at a similar rate, suggesting that there are no slow-cycling stem cells in murine esophagus. In this study, we examined molecular functions of glutathione S-transferase omega 2 (GSTO2), because its expression was confined to basal cells in human esophageal mucosa. We found that basal cells in the human esophagus comprise heterogeneous cell populations, such as proliferative cell marker Ki67+ and Ki67－ cells, with the latter expressing GSTO2. We also illustrated the function of GSTO2 in regulating cell growth as well as differentiation. These results suggest that GSTO2 plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of esophageal epithelia along with its significance as a novel marker for esophageal stem cells.

Free Research Field

消化器病態生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

消化管粘膜は、幹細胞から上皮細胞が新しく供給されることで恒常性が保たれている。本研究により、食道にも胃や腸のように、細胞回転速度の異なるヘテロな細胞集団が存在することが明らかとなった。より細胞回転の遅い、所謂”dormant”幹細胞集団を見分けるマーカーの同定は、食道幹細胞研究に対する学術的貢献度が高いと考えられる。幹細胞の理解は、組織傷害に対する幹細胞を用いた治療法の開発にも繋がると期待され、社会的意義も大きい。