IRF2 maintains the stemness of colonic stem cells by limiting physiological stress from interferon

ABSTRACT: The physiological stresses that diminish tissue stem-cell characteristics remain largely unknown. We previously reported that type I interferon (IFN), which is essential for host antiviral responses, is a physiological stressor for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and that interferon regulatory factor-2 (IRF2), which attenuates IFN signaling, maintains the stemness of HSCs. Here, we explore the role of IRF2 in maintaining colonic epithelial stem cells (CoSCs). In mice with a conditional Irf2 deletion in the intestinal epithelium (hereafter Irf2ΔIEC mice), both the number and the organoid-forming potential of CoSCs was markedly reduced. Consistent with this finding, the ability of Irf2ΔIEC mice to regenerate colon epithelium after injury by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was severely impaired, independently of microbial dysbiosis. Mechanistically, CoSCs differentiated prematurely into transit-amplifying (TA) cells in Irf2ΔIEC mice, which might explain their low CoSC counts. A similar phenotype was induced in wild-type mice by repeated injections of low doses of poly(I:C), which induces type I IFN. Collectively, we demonstrated that chronic IFN signaling physiologically stresses CoSCs. This study provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms that maintain functional CoSCs throughout life.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE107142 | GEO | 2020/09/18

REPOSITORIES: GEO