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. 2014 Jun;141(11):2206-15.
doi: 10.1242/dev.104976.

Stroma provides an intestinal stem cell niche in the absence of epithelial Wnts

Zahra Kabiri, Gediminas Greicius, Babita Madan, Steffen Biechele, Zhendong Zhong, Hamed Zaribafzadeh, Edison, Jamal Aliyev, Yonghui Wu, Ralph Bunte, Bart O Williams, Janet Rossant, David M Virshup

Stroma provides an intestinal stem cell niche in the absence of epithelial Wnts

Zahra Kabiri et al. Development. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Wnt/β-catenin signaling supports intestinal homeostasis by regulating proliferation in the crypt. Multiple Wnts are expressed in Paneth cells as well as other intestinal epithelial and stromal cells. Ex vivo, Wnts secreted by Paneth cells can support intestinal stem cells when Wnt signaling is enhanced with supplemental R-Spondin 1 (RSPO1). However, in vivo, the source of Wnts in the stem cell niche is less clear. Genetic ablation of Porcn, an endoplasmic reticulum resident O-acyltransferase that is essential for the secretion and activity of all vertebrate Wnts, confirmed the role of intestinal epithelial Wnts in ex vivo culture. Unexpectedly, mice lacking epithelial Wnt activity (Porcn(Del)/Villin-Cre mice) had normal intestinal proliferation and differentiation, as well as successful regeneration after radiation injury, indicating that epithelial Wnts are dispensable for these processes. Consistent with a key role for stroma in the crypt niche, intestinal stromal cells endogenously expressing Wnts and Rspo3 support the growth of Porcn(Del) organoids ex vivo without RSPO1 supplementation. Conversely, increasing pharmacologic PORCN inhibition, affecting both stroma and epithelium, reduced Lgr5 intestinal stem cells, inhibited recovery from radiation injury, and at the highest dose fully blocked intestinal proliferation. We conclude that epithelial Wnts are dispensable and that stromal production of Wnts can fully support normal murine intestinal homeostasis.

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