Selected Grantee Publications

A LGR5 Reporter Pig Model Closely Resembles Human Intestine for Improved Study of Stem Cells in Disease

Schaaf et al., The FASEB Journal. 2023.

https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1096/fj.202300223R

The constant epithelial regeneration in the intestine is the sole responsibility of intestinal epithelial stem cells (ISCs), which reside deep in the intestinal crypt structures. To effectively study ISCs, tools to identify this cell population are necessary. This study validates ISC isolation in a new porcine Leucine Rich Repeat Containing G Protein–Coupled Receptor 5 (LGR5) reporter line and demonstrates the use of these pigs as a novel colorectal cancer model. Overall, this novel porcine model provides critical advancement to the field of translational gastrointestinal research. Supported by ORIP (R21OD019738, K01OD019911), NCI, and NIDDK.