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Review
. 2008 Dec:23:350-9.
doi: 10.1152/physiol.00031.2008.

Inflammation and stem cells in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis

Michael Quante  1 , Timothy Cragin Wang
Affiliations
Review

Inflammation and stem cells in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis

Michael Quante et al. Physiology (Bethesda). 2008 Dec.

Abstract

Chronic inflammation-induced carcinogenesis is a commonly accepted entity and is frequently seen within the gastrointestinal tract, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Alterations in specific oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are known to be responsible for malignant transformation. Nevertheless, the inflammatory microenvironment classically affects tumor promotion in its role as an altered stem cell niche and can also affect tumor initiation and tumor progression. The origin of the tumor cells is often attributed to stem cells, a unique subpopulation within tumors that possess the ability to initiate tumor growth and sustain self-renewal, as well as is largely responsible for their metastatic potential. Here, we review the link between inflammation and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis and the relationship between stem cells and cancer stem cells.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Schematic illustration of the relation of cancer development originating from chronic inflammation
Inflammatory cells and a variety of mediators together establish an inflammatory microenvironment. Neutrophils and tissue mast cells are recruited (2). B lymphocytes, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and CD4+ T-helper lymphocytes are responsible for an adaptive immune response during the acute activation of innate immunity (3). Mast cells release inflammatory mediators that attract migratory inflammatory cells to the site. Then, monocytes migrate to the area, differentiate into macrophages, and become activated in response to local chemokine and cytokine interactions (3). These alterations in the stem cell niche are responsible for the transformation of stem or progenitor cells to tumor stem cells (4a–c). The origin of cancer stem cells and cancer cells could be tissue (4a, 4c) or bone marrow-derived (4b) stem cells. There are two possible origins for tissue progenitor cells, referred to as label-retaining cells (LRCs) or Lgr5 positive crypt base columnar (CBC) cells between Paneth cells.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic illustration of the location of putative small intestinal stem cell and progenitor cell markers
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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