AUTHOR=Amiri Mahdi , Seidler Ursula E. , Nikolovska Katerina 

TITLE=The Role of pHi in Intestinal Epithelial Proliferation–Transport Mechanisms, Regulatory Pathways, and Consequences

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.618135

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2021.618135

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=<p>During the maturation of intestinal epithelial cells along the crypt/surface axis, a multitude of acid/base transporters are differentially expressed in their apical and basolateral membranes, enabling processes of electrolyte, macromolecule, nutrient, acid/base and fluid secretion, and absorption. An intracellular pH (pH<sub>i</sub>)-gradient is generated along the epithelial crypt/surface axis, either as a consequence of the sum of the ion transport activities or as a distinctly regulated entity. While the role of pH<sub>i</sub> on proliferation, migration, and tumorigenesis has been explored in cancer cells for some time, emerging evidence suggests an important role of the pH<sub>i</sub> in the intestinal stem cells (ISCs) proliferative rate under physiological conditions. The present review highlights the current state of knowledge about the potential regulatory role of pH<sub>i</sub> on intestinal proliferation and differentiation.</p>