Defining the role of gut microbiota in intestinal stem cell development and inflammation

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most common and deadly disorders of the gastrointestinal tract in preterm infants, accounting for the second highest percentage of neonatal deaths. Although the underlying disease mechanisms are still unclear, the increased incidence of NEC has been associated with excessive antibiotic use during pregnancy. Newborns become exposed to gut microbiota, which coincides with intestinal stem cells (iSCs) differentiation into paneth cells (PCs), a critical cell type controlling immune response. Therefore, we hypothesize that exposure to normal gut microbiota is essential for iSCs differentiation into PCs, thereby preventing NEC. Cellular differentiation involves the dynamic chromatin alterations to direct lineage-specific gene expression patterns. We will define the role of gut microbiota in establishing PCs-specific chromatin structures and regulators by analyzing chromatin and gene expression patterns in mice treated with antibiotics.TO BE CON’T

Faculty Supervisor:

Tae-Hee Kim

Student:

Partner:

Seoul National University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: