REGγ drives Lgr5 stem cells to potentiate radiation induced intestinal regeneration.

Leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), a marker of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), is considered to play key roles in tissue homoeostasis and regeneration after acute radiation injury. However, the activation of Lgr5 by integrated signaling pathways upon radiation remains poorly understood. Here, we show that irradiation of mice with whole-body depletion or conditional ablation of REGγ in Lgr5 stem cell impairs proliferation of intestinal crypts, delaying regeneration of intestine epithelial cells.