Peyer's patch M cells derived from Lgr5⁺ stem cells require SpiB and are induced by RankL in cultured miniguts

Peyer's patches consist of domains of specialized intestinal epithelium overlying gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Luminal antigens reach the GALT by translocation through epithelial gatekeeper cells, the so-calledMcells. We recently demonstrated that all epithelial cells required for the digestive functions of the intestine are generated from Lgr5-expressing stem cells. Here, we show thatMcells also derive from these crypt-based Lgr5 stem cells. The Ets family transcription factor SpiB, known to control effector functions of bone marrow-derived immune cells, is specifically expressed inMcells. In SpiB^-/-mice, Mcells are entirely absent, which occurs in a cell-autonomous fashion. It has been shown that Tnfsf11 (RankL) can induceMcell development in vivo. We show that in intestinal organoid (" minigut" ) cultures, stimulation with RankL induces SpiB expression within 24 h and expression of otherMcell markers subsequently. We conclude that RankL-induced expression of SpiB is essential for Lgr5 stem cell-derived epithelial precursors to develop intoMcells.