Intestinal Lymphatic Endothelial Cells Produce R-Spondin3

Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 16;8(1):10719. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-29100-7.

Abstract

The R-Spondin (R-Spo) family regulates WNT signaling and stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). R-Spo plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, but endogenous producers of R-Spo in the intestine remain to be investigated. We found that R-Spo3 was the major R-Spo family member produced in the intestine and it was predominantly produced by CD45-CD90+CD31+ lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in the lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that LECs highly expressed R-Spo receptor, Lgr5, suggesting an autocrine stimulatory loop in LECs. LECs were significantly reduced in number, and their R-Spo3 production was impaired in intestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The impaired production of R-Spo3 in the intestine may be a novel mechanism of delayed tissue repair and defective mucosal defense in intestinal GVHD. We demonstrate a novel role of intestinal LECs in producing R-Spondin3 to maintain intestinal homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autocrine Communication
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology*
  • Endothelium, Lymphatic / cytology
  • Endothelium, Lymphatic / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / cytology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Thrombospondins / metabolism*
  • Transplantation, Homologous / adverse effects

Substances

  • Lgr5 protein, mouse
  • R-spondin3 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Thrombospondins