The Morris Lab, in collaboration with the Warner Lab at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, recently published a paper in CMGH. The paper, “Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Regional Reprogramming During Adaptation to Massive Small Bowel Resection in Mice,” shows that following removal of the proximal small intestine (SI), enterocytes of the remaining distal SI undergo “regional reprogramming” to adopt a more proximal identity. This is driven by retinoid metabolism and the proximal transcription factor Creb3l3.
“These findings are exciting as interventions to boost the endogenous reprogramming capacity of SI enterocytes, conceivably by engaging the retinoid metabolism pathway, may potentially overcome intestinal failure in short gut syndome,” said Dr. Samantha Morris, Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology and Genetics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Morris is a senior author on the paper, along with Dr. Brad Warner, the Jessie L. Ternberg Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and chief surgeon for the St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Kristen Seiler, a resident physician in the Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is first author on the paper. Members of the Morris Lab including postdoctoral fellow Kenji Kamimoto, graduate student Sarah Waye, and graduate student Wenjun Kong, are also authors on the paper. Congratulations, all!