Long-lasting extracellular matrix modifications reshape intestinal stem cell fate and promote chronic inflammation.

Persistent pathological ECM reprogramming after gut inflammation directs intestinal stem cells toward a pro-inflammatory, wound-associated epithelial state.

• Why it matters: Understanding whether the extracellular matrix reverts after inflammation is crucial because its lasting modifications may influence chronic inflammation and maladaptive tissue repair, impacting treatment strategies.
• What they did: The study used multi-omics, biomechanical profiling, and spatial fate mapping in colitis models to identify lasting ECM changes, notably collagen XVIII accumulation, that alter stem cell fate and promote immune infiltration.
• The result: Findings suggest that modified ECM encodes injury memory and sustains inflammation, highlighting it as a potential therapeutic target for chronic inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis.