-Review-

Thyroid Hormone-Activated Signaling Pathways are Essential for Development of Intestinal Stem Cells

Kenta Fujimoto, Yuki Shibata and Takashi Hasebe

Department of Biology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

Intestinal homeostasis is maintained by strict regulation of stem cell function. In mammals, several signaling pathways, including the formation of stem cell niches, are involved in stem cell regulation. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms involved in postembryonic maturation of the vertebrate intestine, that is, the acquisition of cell renewal systems, including stem cell development and niche formation. Using thyroid hormone (TH)-dependent intestinal remodeling during amphibian metamorphosis as a model to study these mechanisms, we found that several signaling pathways, including the SHH/BMP4, WNT, Notch, and Hippo pathways, are regulated by TH and involved in stem cell regulation. In this review, we highlight findings regarding the role of these signaling pathways and discuss potential future avenues of study.

J Nippon Med Sch 2023; 90: 246-252

Keywords
intestine, stem cells, thyroid hormone, signaling pathway, amphibian metamorphosis

Correspondence to
Takashi Hasebe, PhD, Department of Biology, Nippon Medical School, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino, Tokyo 180-0023, Japan
hasebet@nms.ac.jp

Received, December 29, 2022
Accepted, March 15, 2023