IL1A promotes inflammation while safeguarding epithelial basal cell identity and barrier function

Herein, we combine analysis of single-cell transcriptional RNA-sequencing from the human adult esophageal epithelium with spatially resolved characterization of epithelial cell populations. Using NGFR and P73, we define a layer of human basal progenitor cells spanning both papillary and interpapillary epithelial regions.

In contrast, cycling basal progenitor cells are enriched within the papillary epithelium and a subset of papillary basal progenitor cells are marked by the differentiation marker YAP, revealing spatially organized human progenitor cell heterogeneity. When challenged, NGFR-positive basal cells outcompete NGFR-negative suprabasal cells in primary organoid-forming capacity and suppress NOTCH signaling to maintain their basal identity.