Intrinsic Autophagy Is Required for the Maintenance of Intestinal Stem Cells and for Irradiation-Induced Intestinal Regeneration

Publication date: 1 August 2017
Source:Cell Reports, Volume 20, Issue 5
Author(s): Jumpei Asano, Taku Sato, Shizuko Ichinose, Mihoko Kajita, Nobuyuki Onai, Shigeomi Shimizu, Toshiaki Ohteki
Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway with important roles in physiological homeostasis and disease. However, the role of autophagy in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) is unclear. Here, we show that intrinsic autophagy in ISCs is important for ISC homeostasis. Mice lacking autophagy protein 5 (ATG5) in intestinal epithelial cells (iECs) (Villin-Cre: Atg5^fl/fl, hereafter Atg5^ΔIEC mice) or in all iECs except Paneth cells (Ah-Cre: Atg5^fl/fl mice) had significantly fewer ISCs than did control mice and showed impaired ISC-dependent intestinal recovery after irradiation. Crypt ISCs from Atg5^ΔIEC mice had significantly higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels than did those from control mice. A ROS-inducing reagent decreased the ISC number and impaired ISC regenerative capacity ex vivo, and treating Atg5^ΔIEC mice with an antioxidant rescued their defects. Our results show that intrinsic autophagy supports ISC maintenance by reducing excessive ROS. Optimizing autophagy may lead to autophagy-based therapies for intestinal injuries.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway with important roles in physiological homeostasis and disease. Asano et al. find that intrinsic autophagy is important for the maintenance of intestinal stem cells by reducing excessive reactive oxygen species. This stem cell maintenance is necessary to provide damage-induced intestinal regeneration.


http://ift.tt/2f73Rww