Darmstämme
Darmstämme is a term used in German-language biology to refer to intestinal stem cells, the cell populations that renew the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. In humans, these stem cells reside at the base of the crypts of Lieberkühn in the small intestine and colon. They divide to produce progenitors that differentiate into absorptive enterocytes, mucus-secreting goblet cells, hormone-producing enteroendocrine cells, and Paneth cells, thereby maintaining the epithelium throughout life.
Characterization and markers: The best-studied intestinal stem cells express LGR5 and OLFM4, with additional quiescent populations
Culture and research: Darmstämme can be isolated to grow organoid cultures that recapitulate the crypt–villous architecture
Clinical relevance: Dysregulation of Darmstämme is implicated in intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and
Terminology: The standard German term for these cells is Darmstammzellen; Darmstämme appears in some texts as