TGFB1 induces fetal reprogramming and enhances intestinal regeneration.

The gut epithelium has a remarkable ability to recover from damage. We employed a combination of high-throughput sequencing approaches, mouse genetics, and murine and human organoids and identified a role for TGFB signaling during intestinal regeneration following injury. At 2 days following irradiation (IR)-induced damage of intestinal crypts, a surge in TGFB1 expression is mediated by monocyte/macrophage cells at the location of damage. The depletion of macrophages or genetic disruption of TGFB signaling significantly impaired the regenerative response. Intestinal regeneration is characterized by the induction of a fetal-like transcriptional signature during repair. In organoid culture, TGFB1 treatment was necessary and sufficient to induce the fetal-like/regenerative state. Mesenchymal cells were also responsive to TGFB1 and enhanced the regenerative response. Mechanistically, pro-regenerative factors, YAP/TEAD and SOX9, are activated in the epithelium exposed to TGFB1. Finally, pre-treatment with TGFB1 enhanced the ability of primary epithelial cultures to engraft into damaged murine colon, suggesting promise for cellular therapy.
Competing Interests: Declaration of interests L.C. and M.P.V are listed inventors of a provisional patent application 63392365.
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