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PMID: 21677748 Published · epublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Microenvironmental regulation of stem cells in intestinal homeostasis and cancer.

Nature ·Vol. 474 ·No. 7351 ·2011-06-15 ·Pages 318-26

Medema JP, Vermeulen L

Abstract

The identification of intestinal stem cells as well as their malignant counterparts, colon cancer stem cells, has undergone rapid development in recent years. Under physiological conditions, intestinal homeostasis is a carefully balanced and efficient interplay between stem cells, their progeny and the microenvironment. These interactions regulate the astonishingly rapid renewal of the intestinal epithelial layer, which consequently puts us at serious risk of developing cancer. Here we highlight the microenvironment-derived signals that regulate stem-cell fate and epithelial differentiation. As our understanding of normal intestinal crypt homeostasis grows, these developments may point towards new insights into the origin of cancer and the maintenance and regulation of cancer stem cells.

MeSH Terms
Animals Homeostasis Humans Intestinal Neoplasms/genetics,pathology Intestines/cytology,pathology,physiology,physiopathology Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism,pathology Signal Transduction Stem Cells/cytology,pathology,physiology Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Medema Jan Paul
Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105AZ, The Netherlands. j.p.medema@amc.nl
Vermeulen Louis
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Article Info
Journal
Nature
Abbr.
Nature
ISSN
1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/nature10212
Email
j.p.medema@amc.nl
Published
2011-06-15
Epub
2011-00-15
Pages
318-26
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
0410462
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1038/nature10212 View journal details
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