The role of TCF4 transcription factor in intestinal epithelial stem cells and tumors

For more than 20 years, T-cell specific factor 4 (Tcf4) is the most intensively studied member of the conserved Tcf/Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (Lef) family of transcription factors. Together with β-catenin coactivator, Tcf4 represents the prominent nuclear effector of canonical Wnt signaling in the intestinal epithelium. Regulation of Wnt-β-catenin signaling in intestinal stem cells is crucial for tissue homeostasis and tumor formation initiation. Up to date, several mouse models were generated to manipulate Tcf4 abundance or activity in vivo and dissect its function. Moreover, mutational screens and expression profiling of human colorectal tumors were carried out to disclose a contribution of TCF4 to tumor progression. However, subsequent studies brought conflicting results in relation to the potential of Tcf4 to activate or repress Wnt target genes and drive or inhibit cell proliferation. Here in this study, we analyze publicly available datasets for global expression of TCF4 and its paralogs in human tissues and colorectal cancer (CRC) samples. Notably, we present newly generated Tcf4flox5 mouse with a conditional Tcf4 allele that can be used to eliminate expression of Tcf4 from two alternative promoters of the gene. Using this mouse strain we documented that Tcf4 loss led to the demise of..