Fall of PARP3 restrains Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells proliferation and mucosal renovation in intestinal aging

The regeneration ability of intestinal epithelium is degenerated in aging. The determining factor is leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5-positive intestinal stem cells (Lgr5+ ISCs). Lgr5-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescence protein) knock-in in transgenic mice at three different ages (young group: 3–6 months; middle group: 12–14 months; old group: 22–24 months) were used to examined Lgr5+ ISCs at three different timepoints. The jejunum samples were collected for histology, immunofluorescence analysis, western blotting and PCR. In tissue, crypt depth, proliferating cells and Lgr5+ ISC numbers were increased in the middle group (12–14 months) and decreased in the old group (22–24 months). The number of proliferating Lgr5+ ISCs gradually decreased as the mice aged. In organoids, the budding number, projected area, and Lgr5+ ISC ratio decreased as the mice aged. The gene expression of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 3 (Parp3) and the protein expression of PARP3 were increased in the middle- and old-aged groups. PARP3 inhibitors slowed organoid growth in the middle group. In conclusion, PARP3 is upregulated in aging, and the inhibition of PARP3 reduces the proliferation of aging Lgr5+ ISCs.