eIF5A maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cells

Abstract Intestinal homeostasis is sustained by self-renewal of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), which continuously divide and produce proliferative transit-amplifying (TA) and then progenitor cells. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), a conserved translation factor, involves in a vari...

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Main Authors: Leilei Li, Yanhui Xiao, Liansheng Liu, Qianying Zhang, Yong Zhang, Dahai Zhu, Ye-Guang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-06-01
Series:Cell Regeneration
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13619-025-00243-z
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author Leilei Li
Yanhui Xiao
Liansheng Liu
Qianying Zhang
Yong Zhang
Dahai Zhu
Ye-Guang Chen
author_facet Leilei Li
Yanhui Xiao
Liansheng Liu
Qianying Zhang
Yong Zhang
Dahai Zhu
Ye-Guang Chen
author_sort Leilei Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Intestinal homeostasis is sustained by self-renewal of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), which continuously divide and produce proliferative transit-amplifying (TA) and then progenitor cells. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), a conserved translation factor, involves in a variety of cellular processes, yet its role in intestinal homeostasis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that eIF5A is indispensable for maintaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis. Conditional knockout of Eif5a in the adult mouse intestinal epithelium leads to stem cell loss, suppressed cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis within the crypts, concurrent with shortened gut length, reduced mouse body weight and rapid animal mortality. Consistently, Eif5a deletion in intestinal organoids also exhibits resembling cellular phenotypes. Mass spectrometry analysis reveals a significant downregulation of mitochondrial proteins, particularly those involved in mitochondrial translation, upon eIF5A depletion. Analysis of a published single-cell RNA sequencing dataset shows that mitochondrial translation-related genes, including Dars2, are highly expressed in ISC, TA and progenitor cells. Furthermore, eIF5A-deficient organoids exhibit impaired mitochondrial function, characterized by reduced ATP levels and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). These findings highlight a critical role for eIF5A in sustaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis by regulating mitochondrial translation, providing a new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying intestinal stem cell renewal and tissue maintenance.
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issn 2045-9769
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spelling doaj-art-4e31353cdee942d4abf3e9a13d288de62025-08-20T02:06:23ZengSpringerOpenCell Regeneration2045-97692025-06-0114111210.1186/s13619-025-00243-zeIF5A maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cellsLeilei Li0Yanhui Xiao1Liansheng Liu2Qianying Zhang3Yong Zhang4Dahai Zhu5Ye-Guang Chen6Guangzhou National LaboratoryGuangzhou National LaboratoryGuangzhou National LaboratoryBioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)Guangzhou National LaboratoryAbstract Intestinal homeostasis is sustained by self-renewal of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), which continuously divide and produce proliferative transit-amplifying (TA) and then progenitor cells. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A), a conserved translation factor, involves in a variety of cellular processes, yet its role in intestinal homeostasis remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that eIF5A is indispensable for maintaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis. Conditional knockout of Eif5a in the adult mouse intestinal epithelium leads to stem cell loss, suppressed cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis within the crypts, concurrent with shortened gut length, reduced mouse body weight and rapid animal mortality. Consistently, Eif5a deletion in intestinal organoids also exhibits resembling cellular phenotypes. Mass spectrometry analysis reveals a significant downregulation of mitochondrial proteins, particularly those involved in mitochondrial translation, upon eIF5A depletion. Analysis of a published single-cell RNA sequencing dataset shows that mitochondrial translation-related genes, including Dars2, are highly expressed in ISC, TA and progenitor cells. Furthermore, eIF5A-deficient organoids exhibit impaired mitochondrial function, characterized by reduced ATP levels and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). These findings highlight a critical role for eIF5A in sustaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis by regulating mitochondrial translation, providing a new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying intestinal stem cell renewal and tissue maintenance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13619-025-00243-zIntestinal homeostasiseIF5AIntestinal stem cellsMitochondrial translation
spellingShingle Leilei Li
Yanhui Xiao
Liansheng Liu
Qianying Zhang
Yong Zhang
Dahai Zhu
Ye-Guang Chen
eIF5A maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cells
Cell Regeneration
Intestinal homeostasis
eIF5A
Intestinal stem cells
Mitochondrial translation
title eIF5A maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cells
title_full eIF5A maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cells
title_fullStr eIF5A maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cells
title_full_unstemmed eIF5A maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cells
title_short eIF5A maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cells
title_sort eif5a maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis by sustaining intestinal stem cells
topic Intestinal homeostasis
eIF5A
Intestinal stem cells
Mitochondrial translation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13619-025-00243-z
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AT qianyingzhang eif5amaintainsintestinalepithelialhomeostasisbysustainingintestinalstemcells
AT yongzhang eif5amaintainsintestinalepithelialhomeostasisbysustainingintestinalstemcells
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