MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY OF THE SMALL-INTESTINE

The intestinal epithelium continues to be an excellent model system fo r studying regulation of gene expression during lineage commitment and differentiation. Recent studies have provided new insights into intes tinal growth and adaptation and intestine-specific gene expression. Th e role of previously characterized growth factors, such as transformin g growth factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, or growth horm one, has been investigated in the intestine. In addition, members of a newly described gene family called the trefoil peptides are being stu died in the intestine and new insights into their functional significa nce are emerging.