intestinal cells

[Nature Protocols] The authors described a protocol that could be used to coculture a primary human colon monolayer with aerotolerant bacteria. Primary human colon cells maintained as organoids were dispersed into single-cell suspensions and then seeded on collagen-coated Transwell inserts, where they attached and proliferated to form confluent monolayers within days of seeding.

[Trends in Immunology] Scientists discuss recent evidence suggesting that the intricate and multidirectional interactions among the microbiota, hypoxia/hypoxic sensors, and mammalian host cells (intestinal epithelial cells and type-3 innate lymphoid cells) determine how the intestinal barrier and host–microbiota–pathogens connections are molded.

[Cell Reports] Researchers generated intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-specific RNA helicase DEAH-box helicase 15 (DHX15)-knockout mice and demonstrated that DHX15 was required for controlling intestinal inflammation. Mechanistically, DHX15 interacted with NLRP6 to trigger NLRP6 inflammasome assembly and activation for inducing IL-18 secretion in IECs.

[Cell Stem Cell] Researchers showed that restricted chromatin accessibility in intestinal stem cells prevented the expression of β-Catenin-regulated metabolic enzymes, whereas fine-tuning of WNT/β-Catenin activity by ZNRF3 and RNF43 restricted proliferation in chromatin-permissive AXIN2+ hepatocytes, while preserving metabolic function.

[Analytical Chemistry] Scientists developed an impedance system to measure the change in electrical resistance of 3D HIOs depending on the integrity of the intestinal epithelial cell membrane, which can reflect functionality and maturity.

[Journal of Molecular Medicine] Researchers employed a doxycycline-inducible phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) mouse strain to show that aberrant PRL-3 expression within a non-cancerous background led to the death of Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells and to Paneth cell expansion.