Heat-inactivated Bifidobacterium adolescentis ameliorates colon senescence through Paneth-like-cell-mediated stem cell activation

Declined numbers and weakened functions of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) impair the integrity of the intestinal epithelium during aging. However, the impact of intestinal microbiota on ISCs in this process is unclear. Here, using premature aging mice (telomerase RNA component knockout, Terc −/− ), natural aging mice, and in vitro colonoid models, we explore how heat-inactivated Bifidobacterium adolescentis ( B. adolescentis ) affects colon senescence. We find that B. adolescentis could mitigate colonic senescence-related changes by enhancing intestinal integrity and stimulating the regeneration of Lgr5 + ISCs via Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, we uncover the involvement of Paneth-like cells (PLCs) within the colonic stem-cell-supporting niche in the B. adolescentis- induced ISC regeneration. In addition, we identify soluble polysaccharides (SPS) as potential effective components of B. adolescentis . Overall, our findings reveal the role of heat-inactivated B. adolescentis in maintaining the ISCs regeneration and intestinal barrier, and propose a microbiota target for ameliorating colon senescence. Here, Wang et al . show that heat-inactivated Bifidobacterium adolescentis mediates maintenance of host intestinal barrier through intestinal stem cells activation, which can potentially have translational implications for alleviation of colon senescence and related diseases.