Stress is a major public health issue affecting millions of people across the world, especially children and adolescents. Epidemiological studies have shown that stress in early life is associated with increased susceptibility to mental and intestinal disorders in adults. Yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating the long-term impact of early life stress are not well understood. After birth, the intestine undergo a major post-natal maturation process that is required to prepare the organ to optimally fulfil its functions later in life. Elevated levels of physical or psychological stress during early life can be detrimental for this process, affecting the function of the gut into adulthood. In this project, I explore the possibility that early life stress perturbs the intestinal epithelial cells, affecting gut function later in life. Taking advantage of single cell sequencing technologies, and mouse models of early life stress, my aim is to identify the cellular and molecular pathways by which stress perturbs intestinal epithelial cells, inducing long-lasting consequences for intestinal function.
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