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Intestinal Stem Cells: From Homeostasis to Cancer

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Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 9

Part of the book series: Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells ((STEM,volume 9))

Abstract

The gastrointestinal epithelium is a highly organised tissue that is constantly renewed. For this reason, it is one of the most rapidly proliferating organs in the body. A complete turnover of the epithelium occurs every 3–5 days in the mouse, a process that is maintained by a small population of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that reside in the crypt bases. In order to maintain homeostasis, the balance between intestinal stem cell (ISC) renewal and differentiation must be carefully monitored. In this review, we first summarize 50 years of research in this field starting with the work of Christopher Leblond in the late 1950s. We then debate on the precise localization of intestinal stem cells underlining the existing battle between researchers supporting the columnar base crypt theory or the +4 position (+4LRCs). Some of the proposed specific markers of intestinal stem cells are detailed. Herein, we finish by describing colon cancer stem cells and giving some of the consequences of their existence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, CNRS UMR 5203, Inserm U661, Montpellier 1 and 2 Universities, Institute of Functional Genomics (IGF), 141 Rue de la Cardonille, 34094, Montpellier, France

    Julie Pannequin, Dominique Joubert & Frédéric Hollande

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  1. Julie Pannequin
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  2. Dominique Joubert
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  3. Frédéric Hollande
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Correspondence to Frédéric Hollande .

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  1. , Kean University, Room 213, Library building, Morris Avenue 1000, Union, 07083, New Jersey, USA

    M.A. Hayat

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Pannequin, J., Joubert, D., Hollande, F. (2013). Intestinal Stem Cells: From Homeostasis to Cancer. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Volume 9. Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5645-8_21

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