Immortalized Intestinal Telocytes - A Stem Cell Niche In Vitro

Abstract

Telocytes, a distinct type of mesenchymal cell, have recently emerged as crucial components of the intestinal stem cell niche, primarily by providing essential Wnt proteins that drive stem cell function. However, their detailed biology and the specific mechanisms by which they regulate stem cell activity remain largely unexplored. Here, we established an immortalized intestinal telocyte cell line that retains the key cellular and molecular characteristics of native telocytes. Remarkably, this cell line, unlike telocyte-depleted immortalized mesenchyme, supports the growth of both mouse and human organoids in co-culture without the need for external factor supplementation. These findings indicate that telocytes are not only essential but are also sufficient to maintain stem cell activity. This immortalized telocyte line provides a valuable source of factors that support stem cell activity in vitro, offering a powerful tool for advancing our understanding of telocyte biology and the reciprocal communication between stem cells and their niche.