Figure 2.

The intestinal stem cell niche along colon in homeostasis (left panel) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (right panel). Intestinal stem cell niche comprises of intestinal stem cells and Paneth-like population of Dll4+/Reg4+ Deep Crypt Cells (DCS) located along the crypt base. ISCs undergoes continual renewal and differentiation into distinct secretory and absorptive epithelial cell types. Other sub-niches such as the gut microbiota and underlying layer of immune cells, contribute to the myriad of signals which drive this complex and dynamic process of epithelial renewal and differentiation. IBD-associated alterations in ISC niche and the associated factors have been highlighted along the lower panel