Gene expression profiles of intestinal tumors originating from different cell compartments

Introduction of mutations into intestinal stem cells leads to tumorigenesis, therefore intestinal stem cells are believed to function as cell of origin of intestinal tumors. However in the case of additional protumorigenic stimuli differentiated cells can dedifferentiate and can also give rise to intestinal tumors. Expression of stabilized -catenin (CtnnbloxEx3/+) and mutant KrasG12D/+ in all the intestinal cells by using Cre recombinase driven by the villin promoter (VilCreER) leads to rapid transformation and tumorigenesis. However, when the same mutations are introduced only into the differentited cell by the help of Xbp1sCreER mice also develop tumors.

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