Age-dependent transition from cell-level to population-level control in murine intestinal homeostasis revealed by coalescence analysis

PLoS Genet. 2013;9(2):e1003326. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003326. Epub 2013 Feb 28.

Abstract

In multi-cellular organisms, tissue homeostasis is maintained by an exquisite balance between stem cell proliferation and differentiation. This equilibrium can be achieved either at the single cell level (a.k.a. cell asymmetry), where stem cells follow strict asymmetric divisions, or the population level (a.k.a. population asymmetry), where gains and losses in individual stem cell lineages are randomly distributed, but the net effect is homeostasis. In the mature mouse intestinal crypt, previous evidence has revealed a pattern of population asymmetry through predominantly symmetric divisions of stem cells. In this work, using population genetic theory together with previously published crypt single-cell data obtained at different mouse life stages, we reveal a strikingly dynamic pattern of stem cell homeostatic control. We find that single-cell asymmetric divisions are gradually replaced by stochastic population-level asymmetry as the mouse matures to adulthood. This lifelong process has important developmental and evolutionary implications in understanding how adult tissues maintain their homeostasis integrating the trade-off between intrinsic and extrinsic regulations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors*
  • Animals
  • Asymmetric Cell Division
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Homeostasis* / genetics
  • Homeostasis* / physiology
  • Intestinal Mucosa* / metabolism
  • Intestines* / cytology
  • Intestines* / physiology
  • Mice
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Stem Cells* / cytology
  • Stem Cells* / metabolism

Grants and funding

This work is supported in part by grants from National Science Foundation of China (91131011) and Ministry of Science and Technology (2012CB316505) and by funding from the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.