Calorie Restriction Increases the Number of Competing Stem Cells and Decreases Mutation Retention in the Intestine

Lotte Bruens, Saskia Inge Johanna Ellenbroek, Saskia Jacoba Elisabeth Suijkerbuijk, Maria Azkanaz, Alexander James Hale, Pim Toonen, Dustin James Flanagan, Owen James Sansom, Hugo Johannes Snippert, Jacco van Rheenen

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Abstract

Calorie restriction (CR) extends lifespan through several intracellular mechanisms, including increased DNA repair, leading to fewer DNA mutations that cause age-related pathologies. However, it remains unknown how CR acts on mutation retention at the tissue level. Here, we use Cre-mediated DNA recombination of the confetti reporter as proxy for neutral mutations and follow these mutations by intravital microscopy to identify how CR affects retention of mutations in the intestine. We find that CR leads to increased numbers of functional Lgr5+ stem cells that compete for niche occupancy, resulting in slower but stronger stem cell competition. Consequently, stem cells carrying neutral or Apc mutations encounter more wild-type competitors, thus increasing the chance that they get displaced from the niche to get lost over time. Thus, our data show that CR not only affects the acquisition of mutations but also leads to lower retention of mutations in the intestine.

Original languageEnglish
Article number107937
Pages (from-to)1-10
JournalCell Reports
Volume32
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Jul 2020

Keywords

  • calorie restriction
  • competition
  • diet
  • intestine
  • Lgr5
  • mutation retention
  • stem cells

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