Cytokine/Jak/Stat Signaling Mediates Regeneration and Homeostasis in the Drosophila Midgut

Huaqi Jiang, Parthive H. Patel, Alexander Kohlmaier, Marc O. Grenley, Donald G. McEwen, Bruce A. Edgar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

758 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cells in intestinal epithelia turn over rapidly due to damage from digestion and toxins produced by the enteric microbiota. Gut homeostasis is maintained by intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that divide to replenish the intestinal epithelium, but little is known about how ISC division and differentiation are coordinated with epithelial cell loss. We show here that when enterocytes (ECs) in the Drosophila midgut are subjected to apoptosis, enteric infection, or JNK-mediated stress signaling, they produce cytokines (Upd, Upd2, and Upd3) that activate Jak/Stat signaling in ISCs, promoting their rapid division. Upd/Jak/Stat activity also promotes progenitor cell differentiation, in part by stimulating Delta/Notch signaling, and is required for differentiation in both normal and regenerating midguts. Hence, cytokine-mediated feedback enables stem cells to replace spent progeny as they are lost, thereby establishing gut homeostasis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1343-1355
Number of pages13
JournalCell
Volume137
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 26 2009

Keywords

  • DEVBIO

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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