REPARATIVE ROLE OF GUT STEM CELLS

摘要

Studies have shown that intestinal ischemic injury that denudes greater than 50% of the glandular epithelium, such as occur with large colon volvulus, has been associated with a poor prognosis for survival. This extent of injury likely compromises theproliferative cell population responsible for creating new epithelium that resides there. The entire structure that houses the glandular epithelium is the intestinal crypt and contained within its deepest region are proliferative cells known as transitamplifying cells. These are adjacent to the stem cells at the base of the crypts, together comprising the stem cell niche. Recent advances in the field of intestinal stem cell biology have re-energized this area of research as the potential source of ground breaking new therapeutic interventions to treat intestinal injury. However, in order to harness these new discoveries to benefit our veterinary patients, research is needed to specifically characterize and mark the cell types present. Ultimately, through the study of intestinal stem cells, advanced techniques that facilitate rapid repair following ischemic injury appear to be one of the key areas of research needed in order to increase survival.