Details for: CL0002563

Cell ID: CL0002563

Cell Name: intestinal epithelial cell

Description: An epithelial cell of the lining of the intestine.

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

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Score:
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Genes

Contexts:

Cell Significance Index (CSI) is uniquely calculated to reveal cell-specific gene markers. More info here

Significant Genes List

Genes with the highest and lowest Percentile Rank Scores (PRS) for intestinal epithelial cell within the selected context(s).

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for intestinal epithelial cell. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
(Previously described as "Fold Change", but now represents Cliff's Delta × –log10(p).)

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for intestinal epithelial cell. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
Average CSI: csi sum / gene count
Cell network configuration

This network visualizes key genes for intestinal epithelial cell. It primarily includes:
1. Top genes highly significant for this cell (Num. Top Cell Genes - based on the 'Min. CSI' setting).
2. Any additional specific 'Context Genes' you add below.
The final network is a combined view. Choose an Interaction Source (pathways or protein interactions) and optionally compare CSI scores with a Baseline Cell Type.

Maximum number of selected genes.
Select a context for the baseline cell.
Select a context for the target cell.
Target Cell for CSI:  intestinal epithelial cell (CL0002563)

 Legend
Nodes (Genes):
 Query Gene
Node size also reflects Target Cell CSI magnitude.
Node Color (Target Cell CSI in specific network):
 Very High
 High
 Medium
 Low
 Very Low
 N/A or Not Sig.
Edges (Interactions):
 STRING (Protein-Protein)
 ONTOLOGY (Shared Pathway)
 Colors vary by pathway category; default arrow applies.

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## Summary An [intestinal epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL0002563) is a specialized cell type that forms the lining of the intestine, acting as a critical barrier and the primary site for nutrient absorption. The gene significance profile of this cell is overwhelmingly dominated by markers of high metabolic activity and iron homeostasis. Specifically, the exceptional expression specificity of ferritin light chain ([FTL](/details-gene/2512)) and a large suite of mitochondrial respiratory chain components suggests that its core identity is defined by an intense energy demand coupled with a central role in systemic iron management. ## Key Characteristics and Function **Overall**, the gene expression landscape of the [intestinal epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL0002563) underscores its role as a metabolically vigorous and functionally specialized barrier cell. The top marker genes can be organized into distinct functional clusters that define its primary activities. * **Intense Mitochondrial Metabolism:** A striking feature of this cell type is the high expression specificity of a broad array of genes involved in aerobic respiration. This includes multiple nuclear-encoded subunits of Cytochrome c Oxidase (Complex IV), such as [COX7C](/details-gene/1350), [COX6C](/details-gene/1345), [COX5B](/details-gene/1329), and [COX4I1](/details-gene/1327), as well as subunits of Complex III ([UQCRB](/details-gene/7381)) and Complex V ([ATP5MC2](/details-gene/517)). Furthermore, mitochondrially-encoded genes from Complex I ([ND4](/details-gene/4538)) and Complex IV ([COX1](/details-gene/4512), [COX2](/details-gene/4513)) are also among the most defining markers. This coordinated high specificity across different complexes of the electron transport chain indicates that a powerful capacity for ATP production is a fundamental and defining characteristic of these cells, likely required to fuel the energy-intensive processes of nutrient transport and high cellular turnover. * **Iron Sequestration and Homeostasis:** The top-ranked marker by expression specificity is [FTL](/details-gene/2512) (ferritin light chain), with its counterpart [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) (ferritin heavy chain) also ranking highly. Ferritin is the primary intracellular iron-storage protein. The prominence of these genes highlights the central role of intestinal epithelial cells in absorbing dietary iron and regulating its entry into the systemic circulation, thereby preventing both iron deficiency and toxicity. * **High Protein Synthesis and Turnover:** The cell's profile is also marked by genes essential for general cellular maintenance and growth, consistent with its high rate of renewal. These include [NPM1](/details-gene/4869), involved in ribosome biogenesis, [UBB](/details-gene/7314), which codes for ubiquitin for protein degradation, and [BTF3](/details-gene/689), a general transcription factor. The high specificity of these "housekeeping" genes suggests their activity is significantly elevated in intestinal epithelial cells compared to the average cell, supporting their high metabolic and biosynthetic output. * **Detoxification and Cytoskeletal Integrity:** The presence of [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950), a glutathione S-transferase, as a top marker is consistent with the intestine's function as a barrier, where it is responsible for detoxifying xenobiotics and reactive oxygen species. Additionally, the high specificity of [MYL12B](/details-gene/103910) suggests a dynamic actin-myosin cytoskeleton, crucial for maintaining cell shape, motility during cell migration up the villus, and the integrity of intercellular junctions. * **Anti-Markers:** The low significance scores for various developmental transcription factors, such as [HOXD1](/details-gene/3231) and [GATA5](/details-gene/140628), are consistent with a terminally differentiated cell state. Similarly, the low ranking of genes associated with other lineages confirms the specific epithelial identity of this cell population. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles The gene signature of [intestinal epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0002563) provides insights into their potential roles in health and disease. The profound reliance on mitochondrial respiration suggests these cells may be particularly vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction, which is implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and certain forms of colorectal cancer. The high expression specificity of numerous electron transport chain components, such as [ND4](/details-gene/4538) ([Link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1377597/)), indicates that disruptions in energy metabolism could severely compromise the integrity of the intestinal barrier, leading to increased permeability and inflammation. The central role in iron handling, underscored by top markers [FTL](/details-gene/2512) and [FTH1](/details-gene/2495), positions these cells as key players in iron metabolism disorders. Dysregulation of iron absorption in these cells can lead to systemic conditions such as iron-deficiency anemia or hereditary hemochromatosis. The significant expression of [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950), an enzyme involved in detoxification, highlights the cell's frontline role in metabolizing dietary toxins and drugs. Variations in the activity of this enzyme could influence an individual's susceptibility to carcinogens and their response to oral medications. ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis:** The unique and coordinated high expression specificity of a vast suite of both nuclear and mitochondrially-encoded respiratory chain subunits is not merely a reflection of high energy demand, but represents a specifically adapted metabolic program optimized for the unique bioenergetic and biosynthetic challenges of nutrient absorption and rapid cell turnover in the gut. * **Surprising Findings:** It is remarkable that not just a few key metabolic enzymes, but a broad cohort of components from nearly every complex of the electron transport chain (e.g., [COX7C](/details-gene/1350), [ND4](/details-gene/4538), [UQCRB](/details-gene/7381)) serve as the most specific identifiers for this cell type. This suggests that the entire mitochondrial respiratory apparatus is regulated as a cohesive and defining functional module. * **Testable Questions:** How does the stoichiometric ratio of these highly specific respiratory subunits within assembled supercomplexes in [intestinal epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0002563) differ from other high-energy cells like cardiomyocytes, and does this unique configuration confer enhanced efficiency or specific regulatory properties in response to varying dietary substrates (e.g., fats vs. carbohydrates)? 2. **Hypothesis:** The status of [FTL](/details-gene/2512) as the single most specific gene marker suggests that the regulation of iron storage via light chain-rich ferritin complexes is a uniquely defining and critical function of [intestinal epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0002563), potentially tailored to buffer against dietary iron fluctuations and facilitate controlled iron release into the circulation. * **Surprising Findings:** The expression specificity of [FTL](/details-gene/2512) surpasses even that of the numerous highly specific mitochondrial genes, elevating iron homeostasis from a known function to a uniquely defining characteristic of this cell's identity. This suggests its role may be more specialized than simple bulk storage. * **Testable Questions:** Does silencing of [FTL](/details-gene/2512) versus [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) have differential effects on the rate of iron transcytosis across a polarized monolayer of [intestinal epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0002563)? Furthermore, how does the FTL/FTH1 protein ratio change in disease states like inflammatory bowel disease, and does this contribute to the localized iron dysregulation often observed in this condition?