Math 1 gene and stem cell differentiation

2002/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika

Researchers from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Baylor School of Medicine have analyzed the functions of the Math 1 gene. Before, they saw the importance of this gene in neuronal differentiation, so when they knew that it was also involved in the intestine, they thought it would be related to their nervous system.

However, the expression of this gene was not found in the intestinal nervous system, but in three types of intestinal epithelium cells. Thanks to research with genetically modified mice, they have found that calyx-shaped cells that secrete the mucus needed to move food, enteroendocrine cells that secrete regulatory peptides, and Paneth cells that secrete antimicrobotic peptides are those that express the Math 1 gene. On the other hand, enterocytes, that is, the cells involved in the absorption of food, have nothing to do with the Math 1 gene.

This research allows us to look for new ways to recover intestinal diseases.