Reconstitution of the wounded epithelium is integral to achieve the full healing of the gut
mucosa in treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The ability of intestinal stem cells (ISCs)
to indefinitely self-renew while generating new functional epithelia makes them a potential
therapeutic tool for IBD. Transmembrane protein E-cadherin, a calcium dependent cell-to-cell
adhesion protein at adherens junctions, also regulates the Wnt signaling pathway. The canonical
Wnt (β-catenin dependent) pathway is vital for the ISC homeostasis and regeneration. However,
the role of E-cadherin in ISCs is an important yet notably understudied phenomenon. Disruption
of E-cadherin increases unbound cytosolic β-catenin levels, which go to the nucleus and increase
transcription of Wnt target genes. We hypothesize that disrupted E-cadherin will increase
proliferation of ISCs. In our experiments, we disrupt E-cadherin with different concentrations of
EGTA, a calcium chelator, and see the effect it has on colonoid growth and development. Our
experiments showed that with EGTA there was greater proliferation; 1 mM EGTA experimental
groups had larger colonoids than vehicle control colonoids on day 6 after seeding. This indicates
that EGTA treatment may induce proliferation of the organoid with E-cadherin disruption. For
future study, we will check and confirm the disruption of E-cadherin/β-catenin complex and Wnt
target genes by real-time PCR and immunofluorescence studies. Ultimately our study will open
novel therapeutic applications for patients living with IBD and other clinic inflammatory gut
disorders
