Physiological and pathological role of local and immigrating colonic stem cells

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 295 - 301
• Main Authors: Sipos, Ferenc, Valcz, Gábor, Molnár, Béla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited 28.01.2012
• Subjects: Cell Movement - physiology; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Colon - cytology; Colon - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Colorectal Neoplasms - physiopathology; Disease Progression; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Epithelial Cells - physiology; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa - cytology; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Intestinal Mucosa - physiology; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - physiology; Wound Healing; 上皮干细胞; 干细胞生物学; 慢性炎症; 生理; 病理作用; 移民; 细胞动力学; 结肠癌; Parathyroid hormone; Myofibroblast; Transforming growth factor-β; Colorectal cancer; Fibrosis; Bone marrow; Colon; Mesencyhmal stem cells
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i4.295

The latest avenue of research is revealing the existence of and role for the colonic stem cells in the physiological renewal of the mucosa and in pathological circumstanc- es where they have both positive and negative effects. In the case of human colon, different levels of stem cell compartments exist. First, the crypt epithelial stem cells, which have a role in the normal crypt epithelial cell dynamics and in colorectal carcinogenesis. Close to the crypts, the second layer of stern cells can be found; the local subepithelial stem cell niche, including the pericryptic subepithelial myofibroblasts that regulate the epithelial cell differentiation and have a crucial role in cancer progression and chronic inflammation-related fibrosis. The third level of stem cell compartment is the immigrating bone-marrow-derived stem cells, which have an important role in wound healing after severe mucosal inflammation, but are also involved in cancer invasion. This paper focuses on stem cell biology in the context of physiological and pathological processes in the human colon.