INTESTINAL CANCERS & DISEASES Carbonic Anhydrase IV Inhibits Colon Cancer Development by Inhibiting the Wnt Signaling Pathway through Targeting the WTAP–WT1–TBL1 Axis Carbonic anhydrase IV (CA4) was silenced in all nine colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines and 92.6% of CRC tumors. Promoter hypermethylation contributed to the inactivation of CA4, and it was detected in 75.7% of the patients with CRC. [Gut] Full Article Cathepsin D Protects Colorectal Cancer Cells from Acetate-Induced Apoptosis through Autophagy-Independent Degradation of Damaged Mitochondria The authors assessed the role of cathepsin D in acetate-induced mitochondrial alterations. They found that acetate-induced apoptosis was not associated with autophagy induction in colorectal cancer cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Vibrio vulnificus VvpE Inhibits Mucin 2 Expression by Hypermethylation via Lipid Raft-Mediated ROS Signaling in Intestinal Epithelial Cells Researchers demonstrated that VvpE inhibited Mucin 2 expression by hypermethylation via lipid raft-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling in the intestinal epithelial cells. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article Tumor-Suppressive Function of SIRT4 in Human Colorectal Cancer Investigators established colorectal cancer cell lines overexpressing SIRT4 and investigated their effects on proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as E-cadherin expression, that negatively regulates tumor invasion and metastases. [Br J Cancer] Abstract Listeriolysin O Affects the Permeability of Caco-2 Monolayer in a Pore-Dependent and Ca2+-Independent Manner Scientists tested the effects of listeriolysin O on an intestinal epithelial cell line and compared them to an unrelated pore-forming toxin equinatoxin II. They showed that apical application of both toxins caused a significant drop in transepithelial electrical resistance. [PLoS One] Full Article INTESTINAL STEM CELL & ORGANOID RESEARCH Robust Intestinal Homeostasis Relies on Cellular Plasticity in Enteroblasts Mediated by miR-8-Escargot Switch The authors found that intestinal stem cells divided “ahead” of demand during Drosophila midgut homeostasis. Their newborn enteroblasts, on the other hand, took on a highly polarized shape, acquired invasive properties and motility. [EMBO J] Abstract | Graphical Abstract Analysis of Wnt Signaling Dynamics during Colon Crypt Development in 3D Culture Researchers presented the first production of physiologically-shaped, functional colon crypts in vitro (i.e. single crypts with cells expressing Mucin 2 and Chromogranin A). [Sci Rep] Full Article Direct Activation of Amidohydrolase Domain-Containing 1 Gene by Thyroid Hormone Implicates a Role in the Formation of Adult Intestinal Stem Cells during Xenopus Metamorphosis The authors showed that amidohydrolase domain containing 1 was exclusively expressed in proliferating adult epithelial stem cells during metamorphosis with little expression in other intestinal tissues. [Endocrinology] Abstract | Full Article Oncogenic K-Ras Promotes Proliferation in Quiescent Intestinal Stem Cells Researchers used an H2B-Egfp transgenic system to demonstrate that mutationally activated K-Ras accelerated the proliferative kinetics of quiescent intestinal stem cells. [Stem Cell Res] Abstract |