Long-Term Intestinal Epithelial Remodeling Induced by Acute Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Abstract

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a global health burden with lasting effects that extend well beyond the initial nutrient deficiency. To systematically investigate the long-term effects of a single episode of PEM on the structure and function of the intestinal epithelium and its associated microbiota, we employed a comprehensive multi-omics approach, including (spatial) transcriptomics, DNA methylation analysis, fecal metagenomics, and metabolomics. Our findings show that PEM persistently alters the intestinal epithelium by depleting Paneth cells and suppressing antimicrobial gene expression - changes linked to DNA methylation that persist despite dietary recovery. In germ-free mice, the sustained epithelial phenotype after was absent. We identified the microbial lipid metabolite 9-HODE and epigenetically deregulated PPAR-driven GDF15 expression as key molecular drivers of the persistent PEM-induced Paneth cell dysfunction. Targeting microbial lipid production and its link to the host GDF15 pathway could offer novel therapeutic strategies for long-term consequences of malnutrition and other Paneth cell-associated diseases.