Replacing microbiota makes aging intestines young again
When it comes to gut health, we may be only as “old” as the bacteria living in our intestines.
In research published in Stem Cell Reports, a research team demonstrates that transferring young microbiota to the intestines of older mice helps boost the stem cells that make new tissue. This in turn can speed healing when intestines are damaged by causes ranging from surgery and radiation treatments to disease, infections and the natural wear and tear of aging.
“As we age, the constant replacement of intestinal tissue slows down, making us more susceptible to gut-related conditions. Our findings show that younger microbiota can prompt older intestine to heal faster and function more like younger intestine,” says the corresponding author.
While a variety of prebiotic and probiotic products have surged in popularity, this study involved controlled experiments involving a mix of bacteria not available in consumer products. The researchers emphasize that these microbiota require delivery via fecal transfer.
In a series of experiments involving mouse models, the team demonstrated that aging results in changes to the mix of commensal (or helpful) microbiota in the gut. This specifically reduced key signaling involving the gene Ascl2 and WNT signaling among the intestinal stem cells (ISCs) within the intestine lining.
“This reduced signaling causes a decline in the regenerative potential of aged ISCs,” says co-author. “However, when older microbiota were replaced with younger microbiota, the stem cells resumed producing new intestine tissue as if the cells were younger. This further demonstrates how human health can be affected by the other life forms living inside us.”
The research team stressed that more study is needed to confirm the benefits also occur in humans, including determining safe dosing levels and further investigation of the ideal combination of microbiota species to include in fecal transfers.
https://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(25)00392-3
