Identification of GATA-4 as a novel transcriptional regulatory component of regenerating islet-derived family members.

Intestinal epithelial cells are exposed to luminal bacterial threat and require adequate defense mechanisms to ensure host protection and epithelium regeneration against possible deleterious damage. Differentiated intestinal epithelial cells produce antimicrobial and regenerative components that protect against such challenges. Few intestinal specific transcription factors have been identified to control the switching from repression to activation of this class of gene.