Nature Communications (Nov 2021)
Smooth muscle-specific MMP17 (MT4-MMP) regulates the intestinal stem cell niche and regeneration after damage
Abstract
While the role of smooth muscle in peristalsis has been studied extensively, little is known about its other functions in the intestine. Here the authors identify MMP17, expressed by smooth muscle cells, as a modulator of intestinal epithelial regeneration and the intestinal stem cell niche.