Defining the structure, signals, and cellular elements of the gastric mesenchymal niche

PDGFRA-expressing mesenchyme provides a niche for intestinal stem cells. Corresponding compartments are unknown in the stomach, where corpus and antral glandular epithelia have similar niche dependencies but are structurally distinct from the intestine and from each other. Previous studies considered antrum and corpus as a whole and did not assess niche functions. Using high-resolution imaging and sequencing, we identify regional subpopulations and niche properties of purified mouse corpus and antral PDGFRA+ cells. PDGFRAHi sub-epithelial myofibroblasts are principal sources of BMP ligands in both gastric segments; two molecularly distinct groups distribute asymmetrically along antral glands but together fail to support epithelial organoids in vitro. In contrast, strategically positioned PDGFRALo cells that express CD55 enable corpus and antral organoid growth in the absence of other cellular or soluble factors. Our study provides detailed insights into spatial, molecular, and functional organization of gastric mesenchyme and the spectrum of signaling sources for stem cell support.