2. Role of miRNAs in intestinal differentiation
The intestine is required for the digestion and absorption of essential nutrients and water. In this process, its surface epithelium is exposed to one of the most toxic milieus of the whole body. It has to resist aggressive digestive juices, large pH changes, anaerobic bacteria and numerous toxic compounds. To resist this, its surface epithelium is completely renewed in less than 2 weeks. An intricate network of signaling pathways controls the proliferation and differentiation from intestinal stem cells to the mature cell types. Pathways responsible for stem cell maintenance are opposed by pathways leading to cell differentiation. We are trying to elucidate how certain miRNAs are regulated by these opposing pathways, and which role they play in the physiology of normal intestinal cells and the behavior of cancer cells.
To know more... (pdf chapter of the last de Duve Institute report)
Publications >
