Markers and Methods to Study Adult Midgut Stem Cells.

Stem cells have emerged as a promising cell source to heal, replace or regenerate tissue and organs damaged by aging, injury or diseases. The intestinal epithelium is the most rapidly renewing tissue in our body, which is maintained by intestinal stem cells (ISCs), located at the bottom of the crypts. ISCs continuously replace lost or injured intestinal epithelial cells in organisms ranging from Drosophila to humans.