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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI119296

Crypt stem cell survival in the mouse intestinal epithelium is regulated by prostaglandins synthesized through cyclooxygenase-1.

S M Cohn, S Schloemann, T Tessner, K Seibert, and W F Stenson

Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Find articles by Cohn, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Find articles by Schloemann, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Find articles by Tessner, T. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Find articles by Seibert, K. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

Find articles by Stenson, W. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published March 15, 1997 - More info

Published in Volume 99, Issue 6 on March 15, 1997
J Clin Invest. 1997;99(6):1367–1379. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI119296.
© 1997 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published March 15, 1997 - Version history
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Abstract

Prostaglandins (PGs) are important mediators of epithelial integrity and function in the gastrointestinal tract. Relatively little is known, however, about the mechanism by which PGs affect stem cells in the intestine during normal epithelial turnover, or during wound repair. PGs are synthesized from arachidonate by either of two cyclooxygenases, cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1) or cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), which are present in a wide variety of mamalian cells. Cox-1 is thought to be a constitutively expressed enzyme, and the expression of Cox-2 is inducible by cytokines or other stimuli in a variety of cell types. We investigated the role of PGs in mouse intestinal stem cell survival and proliferation following radiation injury. The number of surviving crypt stem cells was determined 3.5 d after irradiation by the microcolony assay. Radiation injury induced a dose-dependent decrease in the number of surviving crypts. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of Cox-1 and Cox-2, further reduced the number of surviving crypts in irradiated mice. The indomethacin dose response for inhibition of PGE2 production and reduction of crypt survival were similar. DimethylPGE2 reversed the indomethacin-induced decrease in crypt survival. Selective Cox-2 inhibitors had no effect on crypt survival. PGE2, Cox-1 mRNA, and Cox-1 protein levels all increase in the 3 d after irradiation. Immunohistochemistry for Cox-1 demonstrated localization in epithelial cells of the crypt in the unirradiated mouse, and in the regenerating crypt epithelium in the irradiated mouse. We conclude that radiation injury results in increased Cox-1 levels in crypt stem cells and their progeny, and that PGE2 produced through Cox-1 promotes crypt stem cell survival and proliferation.

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