1. Mitogenic Influence of Human R-Spondin 1 on the Intestinal Epithelium.
- Author
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Kim, Kyung-Ah, Kakitani, Makoto, Zhao, Jingsong, Oshima, Takeshi, Tang, Tom, Binnerts, Minke, Liu, Yi, Boyle, Bryan, Park, Emily, Emtage, Peter, Funk, Walter D., and Tomizuka, Kazuma
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MITOGENS , *EPITHELIAL cells , *CYTOLOGY , *GENE expression , *GENETIC regulation , *GASTROINTESTINAL agents - Abstract
Several described growth factors influence the proliferation and regeneration of the intestinal epithelium. Using a transgenic mouse model, we identified a human gene, R-spondin1, with potent and specific proliferative effects on intestinal crypt cells. Human R-spondin1 (hRSpo1) is a thrombospondin domain-containing protein expressed in enteroendocrine cells as well as in epithelial cells in various tissues. Upon injection into mice, the protein induced rapid onset of crypt cell proliferation involving β-catenin stabilization, possibly by a process that is distinct from the canonical Wnt-mediated signaling pathway. The protein also displayed efficacy in a model of chemotherapy-induced intestinal mucositis and may have therapeutic application in gastrointestinal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
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