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Here, we show that Vestigial-like family member 4 (VGLL4) plays a pivotal role in maintaining small intestinal homeostasis and in regulating Paneth cells. VGLL4 expression is downregulated in response to irradiation and DSS-induced colitis. Consistently, public datasets of human colitis show reduced VGLL4 expression. Loss of VGLL4 in the intestinal epithelium decreases Paneth cell numbers and AMPs production, and triggers gut microbiota dysbiosis, impairing intestinal regenerative capacity. Mechanistically, VGLL4 forms a complex with TEAD4 and ATOH1, stimulating\n                    <jats:italic>GFI1<\/jats:italic>\n                    expression and promoting Paneth cell differentiation. Furthermore, VGLL4 forms a complex with TEAD4 and TCF4 to induce defensin expression, thereby maintaining microbiota composition. Collectively, our findings uncover novel roles for VGLL4 in intestinal homeostasis.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s44319-026-00699-3","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]],"date-time":"2026-02-02T14:41:28Z","timestamp":1770043288000},"page":"1353-1382","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["VGLL4 modulates Paneth cells and sustains intestinal homeostasis"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-9824-6776","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Haoen","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zuoyun","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaodong","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wentao","family":"Yu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guoying","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Haijiao","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yi","family":"Lu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yang","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tiantian","family":"Lu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiaoyu","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ruizeng","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiaqi","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jinjin","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shuo","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xueyan","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiale","family":"Ren","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nan","family":"Tang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0831-7822","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zhonghua","family":"Cheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6646-9341","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jing","family":"Yu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8964-1645","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fang","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7006-4737","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hu","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3456-662X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jinsong","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jun","family":"Qin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1353-8697","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yunyun","family":"Jin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2566-6493","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lei","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"699_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"635","DOI":"10.1083\/jcb.200704152","volume":"178","author":"P Bastide","year":"2007","unstructured":"Bastide P, Darido C, Pannequin J, Kist R, Robine S, Marty-Double C, Bibeau F, Scherer G, Joubert D, Hollande F et al (2007) Sox9 regulates cell proliferation and is required for Paneth cell differentiation in the intestinal epithelium. 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