Ketone Body Signaling Mediates Intestinal Stem Cell Homeostasis and Adaptation to Diet

Chia-Wei Cheng, Moshe Biton, Adam L. Haber, Nuray Gunduz, George Eng, Liam T. Gaynor, Surya Tripathi, Gizem Calibasi-Koca, Steffen Rickelt, Vincent L. Butty, Marta Moreno-Serrano, Ameena M. Iqbal, Khristian E. Bauer-Rowe, Shinya Imada, Mehmet Sefa Ulutas, Constantine Mylonas, Mark T. Whary, Stuart S. Levine, Yasemin Basbinar, Richard O. HynesMari Mino-Kenudson, Vikram Deshpande, Laurie A. Boyer, James G. Fox, Christopher Terranova, Kunal Rai, Helen Piwnica-Worms, Maria M. Mihaylova, Aviv Regev, Omer H. Yilmaz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Little is known about how metabolites couple tissue-specific stem cell function with physiology. Here we show that, in the mammalian small intestine, the expression of Hmgcs2 (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthetase 2), the gene encoding the rate-limiting enzyme in the production of ketone bodies, including beta-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB), distinguishes self-renewing Lgr5 + stem cells (ISCs) from differentiated cell types. Hmgcs2 loss depletes βOHB levels in Lgr5 + ISCs and skews their differentiation toward secretory cell fates, which can be rescued by exogenous βOHB and class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor treatment. Mechanistically, βOHB acts by inhibiting HDACs to reinforce Notch signaling, instructing ISC self-renewal and lineage decisions. Notably, although a high-fat ketogenic diet elevates ISC function and post-injury regeneration through βOHB-mediated Notch signaling, a glucose-supplemented diet has the opposite effects. These findings reveal how control of βOHB-activated signaling in ISCs by diet helps to fine-tune stem cell adaptation in homeostasis and injury. Ketone body metabolites inform intestinal stem cell decisions in response to diverse diets.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1115-1131
Number of pages17
JournalCell
Volume178
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 22 Aug 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology

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