A Single Progenitor Population Switches Behavior to Maintain and Repair Esophageal Epithelium

Abstract

Epithelial Defense Force The nature of the cells that maintain and heal the epithelium lining the esophagus has been controversial. Doupé et al. (p. 1091 , published online 19 July; see the Perspective by Kushner ) show that, unlike many other tissues, mouse esophagus is devoid of slow cycling stem cells. Instead, the epithelium is maintained and repaired by a single population of proliferating cells that can switch rapidly from homeostatic behavior into “repair mode” in the vicinity of a wound.