Oscillation steers differentiation.

The differentiation trajectories defining enteroendocrine (EE) cell heterogeneity remain obscure. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Singh et al.1 map the differentiation landscape of EE cells, identifying early oscillating cell progenitor states, which play a critical role in generating terminal EE cell diversity.

Epithelial TNF controls cell differentiation and CFTR activity to maintain intestinal mucin homeostasis.

The gastrointestinal tract relies on the production, maturation, and transit of mucin to protect against pathogens and to lubricate the epithelial lining. Although the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate mucin production and movement are beginning to be understood, the upstream epithelial signals that contribute to mucin regulation remain unclear. Here, we report that the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF), generated by the epithelium, contributes to mucin homeostasis by regulating both cell differentiation and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity. We used genetic mouse models and noninflamed samples from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing anti-TNF therapy to assess the effect of in vivo perturbation of TNF. We found that inhibition of epithelial TNF promotes the differentiation of secretory progenitor cells into mucus-producing goblet cells. Furthermore, TNF treatment and CFTR inhibition in intestinal organoids demonstrated that TNF promotes ion transport and luminal flow via CFTR. The absence of TNF led to slower gut transit times, which we propose results from increased mucus accumulation coupled with decreased luminal fluid pumping. These findings point to a TNF/CFTR signaling axis in the adult intestine and identify epithelial cell-derived TNF as an upstream regulator of mucin homeostasis.

A DLG1-ARHGAP31-CDC42 axis is essential for the intestinal stem cell response to fluctuating niche Wnt signaling.

A central factor in the maintenance of tissue integrity is the response of stem cells to variations in the levels of niche signals. In the gut, intestinal stem cells (ISCs) depend on Wnt ligands for self-renewal and proliferation. Transient increases in Wnt signaling promote regeneration after injury or in inflammatory bowel diseases, whereas constitutive activation of this pathway leads to colorectal cancer. Here, we report that Discs large 1 (Dlg1), although dispensable for polarity and cellular turnover during intestinal homeostasis, is required for ISC survival in the context of increased Wnt signaling. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and genetic mouse models demonstrated that DLG1 regulates the cellular response to increased canonical Wnt ligands. This occurs via the transcriptional regulation of Arhgap31, a GTPase-activating protein that deactivates CDC42, an effector of the non-canonical Wnt pathway. These findings reveal a DLG1-ARHGAP31-CDC42 axis that is essential for the ISC response to increased niche Wnt signaling.

Lymphangiocrine signals are required for proper intestinal repair after cytotoxic injury.

The intestinal epithelium undergoes continuous renewal and has an exceptional capacity to regenerate after injury. Maintenance and proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are regulated by their surrounding niche, largely through Wnt signaling. However, it remains unclear which niche cells produce signals during different injury states, and the role of endothelial cells (ECs) as a component of the ISC niche during homeostasis and after injury has been underappreciated. Here, we show that lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) reside in proximity to crypt epithelial cells and secrete molecules that support epithelial renewal and repair. LECs are an essential source of Wnt signaling in the small intestine, as loss of LEC-derived Rspo3 leads to a lower number of stem and progenitor cells and hinders recovery after cytotoxic injury. Together, our findings identify LECs as an essential niche component for optimal intestinal recovery after cytotoxic injury.