Sleep disturbance triggers aberrant activation of vagus circuitry and induces intestinal stem cell dysfunction
☆ Watchresearch · published 2026-02-05 · by Hou L, Li H, Li X, Liu D, Lv C, Ning N, Plikus MV, Tian Y, Wang F, Wang L, Wang S, Wu K, Wu X, Yang W, Ye J, Yu L, Yu Z, Zhang H, Zhang M
Cell stem cell · 2026 Feb 5
Abstract
Sleep disturbances are associated with pathogenesis of numerous chronic disorders, including chronic gastrointestinal diseases. However, the mechanism that transmits sleep disturbance-induced aberrant neural signaling from the brain to the gut remains elusive. We show that acute sleep deprivation (SD) impairs intestinal stem cell (ISC) function, leading to shortening of crypt-villus architecture and Paneth cell loss. We identified the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (DMV) as the SD-sensitive central nervous system center that transmits sleep effects to the gut. SD aberrantly activates DMV neurons, driving excessive acetylcholine release from the vagus nerve into the gut. Acetylcholine triggers 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release by enterochromaffin cells and suppresses its reuptake via muscarinic receptors, thereby causing a spike in 5-HT levels. Elevated 5-HT induces excessive oxidative stress in ISCs through its receptor HTR4, promoting gut pathologies. Overall, we reveal an SD-responsive neural circuit that controls ISCs and identify therapeutic strategies for mitigating SD-related gut diseases.
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Neurotransmitters
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