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Developmental biology

Regional identity of gut stem cells—one gene to rule them all

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The stem cells in the stomach and intestine are regulated by different signalling pathways and give rise to entirely different specialized lineages. A study by Simmini and colleagues suggests that the organ-specific identity of gastrointestinal stem cells is regulated by one transcription factor, Cdx2.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks Drs M. Helmrath, M. Mahe, and J. Munera for helpful comments on the manuscript. The author's work is largely supported by NIH grants R01 DK092456, U18 TR000546, R01 DK098350, and U01 DK103117.

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  1. Division of Developmental Biology and Division of Endocrinology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, 45229-3039, OH, USA

    James M. Wells

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  1. James M. Wells
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Correspondence to James M. Wells.

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Wells, J. Regional identity of gut stem cells—one gene to rule them all. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 12, 125–126 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2015.22

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