Presenter: Michael Parappilly
Co-Presenters: Yuan-Hung Lo, Tyler Lantz, Taeko Noah, Noah Shroyer, Anne Powell
Faculty Mentor: Anne Powell
Presentation Type: Oral
Primary Research Area: Science
Major: Human Physiology
Funding Source: NIH – National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; American Gastroenterological Association
Brunner’s Glands (BG) are secretory glands located at the junction of the stomach and small intestine that secrete sodium bicarbonate, mucous, and other factors to neutralize stomach acid and prevent damage to the intestinal epithelium. BG develop after humans and mice are born, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control their development. Tumors arising from BG are known to occur in humans, and understanding BG development may assist in understanding how cancer in this gland could arise. The aim of this study is to evaluate the stem cells that contribute to the development of the gland using mice as our model organism. A stem cell marker known as Lrig1 is a regulator of intestinal stem cell development and by using a technique known as “developmental lineage tracing,” we can show that Lrig1-expressing stem cells contribute to the development of BG. In addition, since BG are secretory glands, we hypothesized that a transcription factor called SPDEF, a factor important in secretory gland formation, is critical for proper development. By analyzing the intestines of mice with SPDEF mutations, we found that BG were largely deformed and underdeveloped. In summary, our study provides insight into the specific progenitor cells that contribute developmentally to the gland, and shed light on molecular mechanisms important for proper BG formation.