Commensal microbiota contribute to gut homeostasis by inducing transcription of mucosal genes. Analysis of the impact of various microbiota on intestinal tissue provides an important insight into the function of this organ. We used cDNA microarrays to determine the gene expression signature of mucosa isolated from the small intestine and colon of germ-free (GF) mice and animals monoassociated with two E. coli strains. The results were compared to the expression data obtained in conventionally reared (CR) mice. In addition, we analyzed gene expression in colon organoids derived from CR, GF, and monoassociated animals. The analysis revealed that the complete absence of intestinal microbiota mainly affected the mucosal immune system, which was not restored upon monoassociation. The most important expression changes observed in the colon mucosa indicated alterations in adipose tissue and lipid metabolism. In the comparison of differentially expressed genes in the mucosa or organoids obtained from GF and CR mice, only six genes were common for both types of samples. The results show that the increased expression of the angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4) gene encoding a secreted regulator of lipid metabolism indicates the GF status.

• Klíčová slova
• Enricher tool, Onecut2, expression profiling, microbiota, monoassociation,
• MeSH
• biologické markery metabolismus   MeSH
• Escherichia coli fyziologie   MeSH
• gnotobiologické modely genetika   MeSH
• imunitní systém metabolismus   MeSH
• kolon metabolismus   MeSH
• mikrobiota MeSH
• myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
• organoidy metabolismus   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese MeSH
• slizniční imunita MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese * MeSH
• střevní sliznice metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH

The first step in the development of human colorectal cancer is aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Wnt signaling hyperactivation is predominantly caused by loss-of-function mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene that encodes the pathway negative regulator. In order to identify genes affected by the Apc loss, we performed expression profiling of intestinal epithelium isolated from mice harboring a conditional Apc allele. The gene encoding transcriptional factor msh homeobox 1 (Msx1) displayed robust upregulation upon Apc inactivation. Histological analysis of the Apc-deficient epithelium revealed that in the small intestine, the Msx1 protein was localized exclusively in ectopic crypts, i.e., in pockets of proliferating cells abnormally positioned on the villi. Ablation of the Msx1 gene leads to the disappearance of ectopic crypts and loss of differentiated cells. Moreover, tumors arising from Msx1-deficient cells display altered morphology reminiscent of villous adenomas. In human tumor specimens, MSX1 displayed significantly increased expression in colonic neoplasia with a descending tendency during the lesion progression towards colorectal carcinoma. In summary, the results indicate that Msx1 represents a novel marker of intestinal tumorigenesis. In addition, we described the previously unknown relationship between the Msx1-dependent formation of ectopic crypts and cell differentiation.

• MeSH
• beta-katenin metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace MeSH
• kolorektální nádory genetika   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• myši knockoutované MeSH
• nádory tračníku genetika   patologie   MeSH
• protein familiární adenomatózní polypózy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u nádorů MeSH
• signální dráha Wnt MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• střevní sliznice metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• tenké střevo patologie   MeSH
• transkripční faktor MSX1 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adenomatous polyposis coli protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• APC protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• beta-katenin MeSH
• MSX1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• Msx1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• protein familiární adenomatózní polypózy MeSH
• transkripční faktor MSX1 MeSH

T-cell factor 4 (TCF4), together with β-catenin coactivator, functions as the major transcriptional mediator of the canonical wingless/integrated (Wnt) signaling pathway in the intestinal epithelium. The pathway activity is essential for both intestinal homeostasis and tumorigenesis. To date, several mouse models and cellular systems have been used to analyze TCF4 function. However, some findings were conflicting, especially those that were related to the defects observed in the mouse gastrointestinal tract after Tcf4 gene deletion, or to a potential tumor suppressive role of the gene in intestinal cancer cells or tumors. Here, we present the results obtained using a newly generated conditional Tcf4 allele that allows inactivation of all potential Tcf4 isoforms in the mouse tissue or small intestinal and colon organoids. We also employed the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system to disrupt the TCF4 gene in human cells. We showed that in adult mice, epithelial expression of Tcf4 is indispensable for cell proliferation and tumor initiation. However, in human cells, the TCF4 role is redundant with the related T-cell factor 1 (TCF1) and lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) transcription factors.

• Klíčová slova
• TCF7L2, Wnt signaling, colorectal cancer, conditional gene inactivation, epithelium, gut, organoids, tumorigenesis,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH