Lipoic acid functions in Paneth cells to prevent human intestinal stem cell aging
Intestinal stem cell (ISC) aging diminishes the regenerative capacity of the intestinal epithelia, but effective therapeutic strategies to counteract human ISC aging remain elusive. Here, we find that the synthesis of α-lipoic acid (ALA) is reduced in old human small intestine. Notably, ALA supplementation inhibits ISC aging and decreases the number of atypical Paneth cells in old human intestinal organoids and in old mouse small intestines. Importantly, we discern that the effect of ALA on mitigating ISC aging is contingent upon the presence of Paneth cells. Inhibiting the mTOR pathway in Paneth cells with ALA or rapamycin significantly increases cyclic ADP ribose (cADPR) secretion and decreases Notum secretion, which, in turn, enhances ISC functions. In this work, our findings substantiate the role of ALA in inhibiting human ISC aging and present a potential therapeutic approach for managing age-related human intestinal diseases.
Authors
- Qianyi Wan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5491-150X)
- Haiou Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8673-9804)
- Xinxin Fan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8121-805X)
- Juanyu Zhou
- Yuedan Zhu
- Gang Ren (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9525-2427)
- Yuan Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8965-0883)
- Jinhua Yan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7422-036X)
- Haiyang Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8305-4060)
- Wei Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1748-4625)
- Zhang Ze-hong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1042-171X)
- Xingzhu Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2237-261X)
- Fang Fu
- Yi Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5180-3490)
- La Yan
- Jinbao Ye
- Xiaoxin Guo
Institutions
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
- Sichuan University (CN)
- West China Hospital of Sichuan University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-07-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61070-z
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Biochemical Acid Research Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.45
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
- Nanchang University
- Sichuan University
- National Science and Technology Major Project
- Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University