Because mitochondria play an important role in maintaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis and its dysfunction is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of IBD and other mucosal pathologies (Berger et al, 2016; Ludikhuize et al, 2020; Urbauer et al, 2020), we tested the possibility that HuR regulates activity of the PC/ISC niche by affecting mitochondrial metabolism. Here, ELAVL1 is linked to inflammatory bowel disease.