Persistence of Lgr5⁺ Colonic Epithelial Stem Cells in Mouse Models of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Direct exposure of colonic epithelial organoids to dextran sulfate sodium, oxazolone, or TNBS resulted in increased apoptosis and loss of Lgr5+ cells. Targeted ablation of Lgr5+ cells resulted in severe exacerbation of chronic, antibody-induced IL-10-deficient colitis, but had only modest effects in TNBS-induced colitis.