title: Stem cells in the Drosophila digestive system.
abstract: Adult stem cells maintain tissue homeostasis by continuously replenishing damaged, aged and dead cells in any organism. Five types of region and organ-specific multipotent adult stem cells have been identified in the Drosophila digestive system: intestinal stem cells (ISCs) in the posterior midgut; hindgut intestinal stem cells (HISCs) at the midgut/hindgut junction; renal and nephric stem cells (RNSCs) in the Malpighian Tubules; type I gastric stem cells (GaSCs) at foregut/midgut junction; and type II gastric stem cells (GSSCs) at the middle of the midgut. Despite the fact that each type of stem cell is unique to a particular organ, they share common molecular markers and some regulatory signaling pathways. Due to the simpler tissue structure, ease of performing genetic analysis, and availability of abundant mutants, Drosophila serves as an elegant and powerful model system to study complex stem cell biology. The recent discoveries, particularly in the Drosophila ISC system, have greatly advanced our understanding of stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, and the role of stem cells play in tissue homeostasis/regeneration and adaptive tissue growth.
authors.affiliation: The Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Xiankun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Chhavi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Steven X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004064:Digestive System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D053612:Janus Kinases; C085845:hop protein, Drosophila; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4