The cellular components and function of the gastrointestinal epithelium exhibit distinct characteristics depending on the region, e.g., stomach or intestine. How these region-specific epithelial characteristics are generated during development remains poorly understood. Here, we report on the involvement of the helix-loop-helix inhibitor Id2 in establishing the specific characteristics of the intestinal epithelium. Id2−/− mice developed tumors in the small intestine. Histological analysis indicated that the intestinal tumors were derived from gastric metaplasia formed in the small intestine during development. Heterotopic Id2 expression in developing gastric epithelium induced a fate change to intestinal epithelium. Gene expression analysis revealed that foregut-enriched genes encoding Irx3 and Irx5 were highly induced in the midgut of Id2−/− embryos, and transgenic mice expressing Irx5 in the midgut endoderm developed tumors recapitulating the characteristics of Id2−/− mice. Altogether, our results demonstrate that Id2 plays a crucial role in the development of regional specificity in the gastrointestinal epithelium.

We conducted a nationwide bedbug surveys in 2016 2017. A total of 101 specimens from 19 prefectures was collected in the investigations. Cimex hemipterus was recorded for the first time in Tokyo in 2016. The species was found in a highly air-tight building, with a constant elevated room temperature therefore, possibly providing an overwintering habitat. The results suggested that C. hemipterus abundance increased in various parts of Japan, with an increase of both Japanese and other tourists.

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We collected Cimex hemipterus and C. lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) from Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Cimex hemipterus had been previously collected from Japan, and the present report represents the record from Japan, after an interval of about 80 years.