Omer Yilmaz, MD, PhD

The role of dysregulated methionine metabolism in the aged intestinal stem cell stromal niche

The adult mammalian intestine is a rapidly renewing organ that is maintained by stem cells. To function properly, these intestinal stem cells often require signals from their cellular neighborhood or “niche”, which consists of epithelial, immune, and stromal fibroblasts. With age, the intestine undergoes progressive loss of tissue function that includes a reduced ability to regenerate after injury. However, it is unknown how much of the age-related decline in intestinal repair is due to the aging of the niche or the aging of the stem cells themselves. The novel tools and questions that will be developed in this BIG project will permit Dr. Yilmaz and others to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in how the stromal niche regulates intestinal stem cells in aging and in health/lifespan-promoting interventions like methionine restricted diets.