Development and differentiation of the intestinal epithelium (original) (raw)

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract develops from a simple tube to a complex organ with patterns of differentiation along four axes of asymmetry. The organ is composed of all three germ layers signaling to each other during development to form the adult structure. The gut epithelium is a constitutively developing tissue, constantly differentiating from a stem cell in a progenitor pool throughout the life of the organism. Signals from the adjacent mesoderm and between epithelial cells are required for normal orderly development/differentiation, homeostasis, and apoptosis. Embryonically important patterning factors are used during adult stages for these processes. Such critical pathways as the hedgehog, bone morphogenetic protein, Notch, Sox, and Wnt systems are used both in embryologic and adult times of gut development. We focus on and review the roles of these factors in gut epithelial cell development and differentiation.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Génétique Humaine, UPR 1142, CNRS, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34396, Montpellier, , France
    P. de Santa Barbara
  2. Laboratory for Experimental Internal Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105, AZ Amsterdam, , The Netherlands
    G. R. van den Brink
  3. Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, , , Boston, MA, USA
    D. J. Roberts

Authors

  1. P. de Santa Barbara
  2. G. R. van den Brink
  3. D. J. Roberts

Corresponding author

Correspondence toP. de Santa Barbara.

Additional information

Received 18 October 2002; received after revision 18 December 2002; accepted 18 December 2002

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Santa Barbara, P., van den Brink, G.R. & Roberts, D.J. Development and differentiation of the intestinal epithelium.CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 60, 1322–1332 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-003-2289-3

Download citation