Inducible Deletion of Rb in Enterocytes Enhances Adaptation After Small Bowel Resection

Abstract

Introduction: Following massive small bowel resection (SBR), an endogenous compensatory process takes place in the remaining bowel termed adaptation. Adaptation induces villi growth, thereby increasing mucosal surface area for absorption and digestion. Previously, we have demonstrated that genetically disrupting retinoblastoma protein (Rb) expression in enterocytes results in taller villi, deeper crypts, and increased rates of enterocyte proliferation – all of which mimic resection induced adaption responses.