Erythroid differentiation regulator-1 induced by microbiota in early life drives intestinal stem cell proliferation and regeneration

Gut microbiota and their metabolites regulate homeostasis of the intestine, but their effects on intestine development are unclear. Here the authors use RNAseq and germ free mice to show that intestinal microbiota promote the expression of Erdr1, which increases Lgr5+ intestinal stem cell number and activity.