Intestinal stem cells promote crypt fission during postnatal growth of the small intestine.

Objective: Wnt-β-catenin signalling is essential for intestinal stem cells. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between intestinal stem cells and crypt fission which peaks during infancy.

Design: Duodenal biopsies were obtained during endoscopy to assess the severity of reflux oesophagitis of 15 infants, children and teenagers, which would not affect the duodenum.

Active β-Catenin Signaling in the Small Intestine of Humans During Infancy.

Background: Wnt-β-catenin signaling is essential for homeostasis of intestinal stem cells in mice and is thought to promote intestinal crypt fission.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate Wnt-β-catenin signaling in intestinal crypts of human infants.

Methods: Duodenal biopsies from nine infants (mean, range 0.