Epithelial cells are one of the most actively cycling cells in a mammalian organism and therefore are prone to malignant transformation. Already during organogenesis, the connective tissue (mesenchyme) provides instructive signals for the epithelium. In an adult organism, the mesenchyme is believed to provide crucial regulatory signals for the maintenance and regeneration of epithelial cells. Here, we discuss the role of intestinal myofibroblasts, α-smooth muscle actin-positive stromal (mesenchymal) cells, as an important regulatory part of the intestinal stem cell niche. Better understanding of the cross-talk between myofibroblasts and the epithelium in the intestine has implications for advances in regenerative medicine, and improved therapeutic strategies for inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal fibrosis and colorectal cancer.

中文翻译：

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肠道干细胞生态位中的细胞相互作用。

上皮细胞是哺乳动物有机体中最活跃的循环细胞之一，因此容易发生恶性转化。结缔组织（间质）已经在器官发生期间为上皮提供了指导性信号。在成年生物中，间充质被认为为维持和再生上皮细胞提供了关键的调节信号。在这里，我们讨论肠道成肌纤维细胞，α平滑肌肌动蛋白阳性基质细胞（间质）的作用，作为肠道干细胞利基的重要调控部分。更好地了解肌成纤维细胞和肠上皮之间的相互影响，对再生医学的进步以及炎症性肠病，肠纤维化和结直肠癌的治疗策略的改进具有重要意义。