Trophocyte, telocyte and sub-epithelial myofibroblasts (SEMF) are key cell populations that regulate signalling gradients along the crypt-villus axis to promote the ISC niche at the crypt base and differentiation programmes at higher cell positions. Trophocytes express CD81 and predominate towards the crypt base (blue) and telocytes/SEMFs span the crypt base to villus tip with higher abundance observed at the crypt-villus junction and villus tip (red/green). The expression patters of telocytes along the crypt-villus axis is non-uniform and due to the heterogeneity of this cell population identified from single cell sequencing, discrete sub-populations are currently difficult to identify. Telocytes express higher amounts of PDGFRα than trophocytes and a sub-population of Lgr5 expressing telocytes are located within the villus tip (red). Signalling gradients that contribute to ISC niche regulation are indicated.