Gut bacteria linked to ageing and tissue repair as probiotics draw celebrity attention

A study published in Stem Cell Reports found that changing the gut microbiome altered intestinal stem cell activity in mice: young microbiomes restored age-related decline in tissue repair, while an age-linked bacterium reduced regenerative signalling. The article also notes growing public interest in probiotics and their promotion by well-known figures.

Researchers report a direct connection between the gut microbiome and the body’s ability to repair intestinal tissue. Teams in Germany and the United States published the findings in Stem Cell Reports after experiments mainly in mice. They tested differences between young and old microbiomes and used microbiome transplants to examine cause and effect. The work examined gene activity in intestinal stem cells and nearby Paneth cells and measured the gut lining’s ability to regenerate. Key findings: - Young and old mice had distinctly different gut microbiomes according to the study. - Transplanting microbiomes from young donors into older mice restored Wnt signalling and increased intestinal stem cell activity, improving tissue renewal. - Transplanting aged microbiomes into young mice produced only modest reductions in stem cell function, suggesting resilience in a young gut environment. - The bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, which increased with age in the study, suppressed Wnt signalling and reduced stem cell regenerative ability when fed to mice. - The researchers reported that age-related decline in the gut’s repair capacity was reversible by resetting the microbial community. Summary: The study indicates the gut microbiome can directly influence cellular ageing in the intestine, and that introducing a younger microbial community restored regenerative function in aged mice. The article places these findings alongside rising consumer interest in probiotic supplements and mentions public figures who have promoted such products. Undetermined at this time.