Old mitochondria regulate niche renewal via stem cell metabolism
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ABSTRACT: Cellular metabolism is emerging as a potent regulator of cell fate, raising the possibility that the recently discovered metabolic heterogeneity between newly synthesized and chronologically old organelles may impact stem cell fate in mammalian tissues. The small intestine is maintained by actively cycling intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that give rise to metabolically distinct progeny, including their Paneth cell niche. Here, we find that asymmetric cell division generates a subset of ISCs enriched for old mitochondria (ISCmito-O). Although ISCmito-O lack characteristics of reserve stem cells, they form organoids niche-independently, owing to their ability to recreate the Paneth cell niche. Mechanistically, mitochondria in ISCmito-O generate more alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG), driving ten-eleven translocation (Tet) methylcytosine dioxygenase-mediated epigenetic changes that are associated with differentiation towards the Paneth cell fate. aKG supplementation in vivo promotes Paneth cell turnover leading to niche renewal, which promotes recovery from chemotherapy-induced damage in aged animals. Our results reveal a subpopulation of intestinal stem cells whose old mitochondria metabolically regulate cell fate, and provide proof-of-principle for metabolically promoted replacement of specific aged cell types in vivo.
INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - alternating - hilic
PROVIDER: MTBLS12349 | MetaboLights | 2025-04-24
REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights
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