Elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of intestinal epithelial cell dedifferentiation during intestinal stem cell injury

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K15132
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 44040:Morphology and anatomical structure-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University (2023); Saitama University (2021-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Takemi Shota 北海道大学, 先端生命科学研究院, 特任助教 (70871440)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 腸上皮幹細胞 / 脱分化 / オルガノイド

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is known that when stem cells located at the base of the crypts of the small intestine are injured and die, differentiated cells located near intestinal stem cells cause dedifferentiation, acquire stem cell-like properties and contribute to epithelial regeneration, but the mechanism of how intestinal differentiated cells cause dedifferentiation is largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the dedifferentiation of Panete cells using intestinal organoids. In this study, the laser power of the femtosecond laser and the time at which it was applied to the cells were optimised, and a system was constructed to observe the behaviour of the cells.

Free Research Field

腸上皮幹細胞

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

小腸幹細胞が傷害を受け死滅すると引き起こされる分化細胞の脱分化は上皮再生に寄与することが知られており、この脱分化機構の破綻はがんや炎症といった疾病につながるため、脱分化制御の機構を解明することは重要である。本研究では、この脱分化機構の解明につながる基礎的な研究成果を生み出すものである。