Cytokine regulation of intestinal epithelial cell proliferation

Abstract

Evaluation of: Nava P, Koch S, Laukoetter MG et al. Interferon-γ regulates intestinal epithelial homeostasis through converging β-catenin signaling pathways. Immunity 32(3), 392–402 (2010).

Inflammation in the gut is associated with changes in the epithelial layer. Barrier function is diminished, epithelial cell death may occur and the epithelial cells themselves secrete proinflammatory cytokines. One of the most obvious changes, however, is in the rate of epithelial renewal, which most often manifests as increased epithelial proliferation, with an increase in mucosal thickness in the colon and the length of the crypts of Lieberkühn in the small bowel. The factors that control the basal rate of renewal and the epithelial stem cell niche have been well studied and it is clear that Wnt signaling is critically important. Inflammatory cytokines, therefore, may alter epithelial renewal in the gut by modifying or antagonizing Wnt signaling pathways.

Keywords::

• colitis
• dkk-1
• IFN-γ
• inflammation
• TNF-α
• Wnt signaling

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.