A new study finds that age-related changes in the gut microbiota of mice directly impair intestinal stem cell function. However, the authors point out that this decline could be reversed by restoring a youthful microbial environment.
The cells lining the intestine are constantly renewed to maintain tissue integrity, nutrient absorption, and ability to regenerate after injury, the study authors wrote. stem cell report.
Intestinal stem cells drive this process by dividing and maturing to generate the cells of the intestinal lining.
The researchers explain that as we age, intestinal stem cell activity decreases, leading to age-related intestinal conditions such as impaired nutrient absorption, regenerative capacity, and increased inflammation. All of these contribute to age-related intestinal dysfunction.
absorption of nutrients Decrease in aged intestinal epithelial cells Research in biomimetic intestinal organoids recently discovered by Kirin Holdings and the University of Tokyo in Japan.
However, new research hypothesizes that microbial intervention may help maintain intestinal function. “This study highlights that the microbiota is an important and modifiable determinant of intestinal homeostasis and tissue regeneration.”
The cells lining the intestine are constantly renewed to maintain tissue integrity, nutrient absorption, and regenerative capacity after injury.The authors say that by linking microbial composition and stem cell activity, the findings highlight that host-microbe interactions are a potential therapeutic target to maintain gut function, increase regenerative capacity, and promote healthy aging.
Intestinal intervention for aging phenomena
Lead researchers from Ulm University in Germany and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in the US said: Ever-increasing research content How changing the gut microbiome can combat age-related health declines.
The researchers found that intestinal stem cells from older mice had significantly lower activity than those from younger mice. This resulted in reduced intestinal cell recruitment and impaired regeneration after injury.
their findings revealed that changes in intestinal stem cell function were associated with significant differences in the composition of the gut microbiota between young and aged mice.
To test whether these microbial changes directly affect intestinal stem cell function, the researchers restored the microbiota of older mice to a more youthful state by transferring gut microbiota from young donors.
The researchers found that this intervention reversed the age-related decline in intestinal stem cell activity and improved the regenerative response after intestinal injury.
Researchers further identified bacterial species (Ackermansia muciniphila) This is prevalent in aging microbiota that appears to inhibit intestinal stem cell function and provides mechanistic insight into how specific microbial changes contribute to stem cell aging.
“We used microbiota transfer experiments to demonstrate that, interestingly, the levels of microbiota are elevated. A. muciniphila “In the intestine, Ascl2-mediated reduction of canonical Wnt signaling in enterocyte function is triggered, resulting in reduced regeneration of senescent epithelium,” they elaborate.
“Thus, the composition of the gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating the gut microbiota. [intestinal cell function]”
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