No place like home: anatomy and function of the stem cell niche.

Stem cells are rare cells that are uniquely capable of both reproducing themselves (self-renewing) and generating the differentiated cell types that are needed to carry out specialized functions in the body. Stem cell behaviour, in particular the balance between self-renewal and differentiation, is ultimately controlled by the integration of intrinsic factors with extrinsic cues supplied by the surrounding microenvironment, known as the stem cell niche. The identification and characterization of niches within tissues has revealed an intriguing conservation of many components, although the mechanisms that regulate how niches are established, maintained and modified to support specific tissue stem cell functions are just beginning to be uncovered.

Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) inhibits stem cell proliferation induced by ectopic activation of the Jak/STAT pathway in the Drosophila testis.

Stem cells can divide asymmetrically with respect to cell fate, producing a copy of themselves (self-renewal), while giving rise to progeny that will differentiate along a specific lineage. Mechanisms that bias the balance towards self-renewal or extend the proliferative capacity of the differentiating progeny can result in tissue overgrowth and, eventually, the formation of tumors. Recent work has explored the role of heterochromatin and heterochromatin-associated proteins in the regulation of stem cell behavior under homeostatic conditions, but less is known about their possible roles in potentiating or suppressing stem cell overproliferation. Here we used ectopic activation of the Jak/STAT pathway in germline and somatic stem cells of the D. melanogaster testis as an in vivo model to probe the function of Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) in stem cell overproliferation. Forced expression of HP1 in either early germ or somatic cells suppressed the overgrowth of testes in response to ectopic Jak/STAT activation. Interestingly, HP1 expression led to distinct phenotypes, depending on whether it was overexpressed in somatic or germ cells, possibly reflecting different cell-autonomous and non-autonomous effects in each cell type. Our results provide a new framework for further in vivo studies aimed at understanding the interactions between heterochromatin and uncontrolled stem cell proliferation, as well as the complex cross-regulatory interactions between the somatic and germline lineages in the Drosophila testis.

Intestinal stem cell ablation reveals differential requirements for survival in response to chemical challenge.

The Drosophila intestine is maintained by multipotent intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Although increased intestinal stem cell (ISC) proliferation has been correlated with a decrease in longevity, there is some discrepancy regarding whether a decrease or block in proliferation also has negative consequences. Here we identify headcase (hdc) as a novel marker of ISCs and enteroblasts (EBs) and demonstrate that Hdc function is required to prevent ISC/EB loss through apoptosis. Hdc depletion was used as a strategy to ablate ISCs and EBs in order to test the ability of flies to survive without ISC function. While flies lacking ISCs showed no major decrease in survival under unchallenged conditions, flies depleted of ISCs and EBs exhibited decreased survival rates in response to damage to mature enterocytes (EC) that line the intestinal lumen. Our findings indicate that constant renewal of the intestinal epithelium is not absolutely necessary under normal laboratory conditions, but it is important in the context of widespread chemical-induced damage when significant repair is necessary.

Regulation of Drosophila intestinal stem cell maintenance and differentiation by the transcription factor Escargot.

Tissue stem cells divide to self-renew and generate differentiated cells to maintain homeostasis. Although influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, the genetic mechanisms coordinating the decision between self-renewal and initiation of differentiation remain poorly understood. The escargot (esg) gene encodes a transcription factor that is expressed in stem cells in multiple tissues in Drosophila melanogaster, including intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Here, we demonstrate that Esg plays a pivotal role in intestinal homeostasis, maintaining the stem cell pool while influencing fate decisions through modulation of Notch activity. Loss of esg induced ISC differentiation, a decline in Notch activity in daughter enteroblasts (EB), and an increase in differentiated enteroendocrine (EE) cells. Amun, an inhibitor of Notch in other systems, was identified as a target of Esg in the intestine. Decreased expression of esg resulted in upregulation of Amun, while downregulation of Amun rescued the ectopic EE cell phenotype resulting from loss of esg. Thus, our findings provide a framework for further comparative studies addressing the conserved roles of Snail factors in coordinating self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells across tissues and species.

Escargot maintains stemness and suppresses differentiation in Drosophila intestinal stem cells.

Snail family transcription factors are expressed in various stem cell types, but their function in maintaining stem cell identity is unclear. In the adult Drosophila midgut, the Snail homolog Esg is expressed in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and their transient undifferentiated daughters, termed enteroblasts (EB). We demonstrate here that loss of esg in these progenitor cells causes their rapid differentiation into enterocytes (EC) or entero-endocrine cells (EE). Conversely, forced expression of Esg in intestinal progenitor cells blocks differentiation, locking ISCs in a stem cell state. Cell type-specific transcriptome analysis combined with Dam-ID binding studies identified Esg as a major repressor of differentiation genes in stem and progenitor cells. One critical target of Esg was found to be the POU-domain transcription factor, Pdm1, which is normally expressed specifically in differentiated ECs. Ectopic expression of Pdm1 in progenitor cells was sufficient to drive their differentiation into ECs. Hence, Esg is a critical stem cell determinant that maintains stemness by repressing differentiation-promoting factors, such as Pdm1.

The let-7-Imp axis regulates ageing of the Drosophila testis stem-cell niche.

Adult stem cells support tissue homeostasis and repair throughout the life of an individual. During ageing, numerous intrinsic and extrinsic changes occur that result in altered stem-cell behaviour and reduced tissue maintenance and regeneration. In the Drosophila testis, ageing results in a marked decrease in the self-renewal factor Unpaired (Upd), leading to a concomitant loss of germline stem cells. Here we demonstrate that IGF-II messenger RNA binding protein (Imp) counteracts endogenous small interfering RNAs to stabilize upd (also known as os) RNA. However, similar to upd, Imp expression decreases in the hub cells of older males, which is due to the targeting of Imp by the heterochronic microRNA let-7. In the absence of Imp, upd mRNA therefore becomes unprotected and susceptible to degradation. Understanding the mechanistic basis for ageing-related changes in stem-cell behaviour will lead to the development of strategies to treat age-onset diseases and facilitate stem-cell-based therapies in older individuals.

Human papillomavirus carcinogenesis: an identity crisis in the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor pathway.

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites and need to reprogram host cells to establish long-term persistent infection and/or to produce viral progeny. Cellular changes initiated by the virus trigger cellular defense responses to cripple viral replication, and viruses have evolved countermeasures to neutralize them. Established models have suggested that human papillomaviruses target the retinoblastoma (RB1) and TP53 tumor suppressor networks to usurp cellular replication, which drives carcinogenesis. More recent studies, however, suggest that modulating the activity of the Polycomb family of transcriptional repressors and the resulting changes in epigenetic regulation are proximal steps in the rewiring of cellular signaling circuits. Consequently, RB1 inactivation evolved to tolerate the resulting cellular alterations. Therefore, epigenetic reprograming results in cellular "addictions" to pathways for survival. Inhibition of such a pathway could cause "synthetic lethality" in adapted cells while not markedly affecting normal cells and could prove to be an effective therapeutic approach.

Investigating spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.

The process of spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster provides a powerful model system to probe a variety of developmental and cell biological questions, such as the characterization of mechanisms that regulate stem cell behavior, cytokinesis, meiosis, and mitochondrial dynamics. Classical genetic approaches, together with binary expression systems, FRT-mediated recombination, and novel imaging systems to capture single cell behavior, are rapidly expanding our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms regulating all aspects of spermatogenesis. This methods chapter provides a detailed description of the system, a review of key questions that have been addressed or remain unanswered thus far, and an introduction to tools and techniques available to probe each stage of spermatogenesis.

Multipotent somatic stem cells contribute to the stem cell niche in the Drosophila testis.

Adult stem cells reside in specialized microenvironments, or niches, that have an important role in regulating stem cell behaviour. Therefore, tight control of niche number, size and function is necessary to ensure the proper balance between stem cells and progenitor cells available for tissue homeostasis and wound repair. The stem cell niche in the Drosophila male gonad is located at the tip of the testis where germline and somatic stem cells surround the apical hub, a cluster of approximately 10-15 somatic cells that is required for stem cell self-renewal and maintenance. Here we show that somatic stem cells in the Drosophila testis contribute to both the apical hub and the somatic cyst cell lineage. The Drosophila orthologue of epithelial cadherin (DE-cadherin) is required for somatic stem cell maintenance and, consequently, the apical hub. Furthermore, our data indicate that the transcriptional repressor escargot regulates the ability of somatic cells to assume and/or maintain hub cell identity. These data highlight the dynamic relationship between stem cells and the niche and provide insight into genetic programmes that regulate niche size and function to support normal tissue homeostasis and organ regeneration throughout life.

mTORC1 is required for differentiation of germline stem cells in the Drosophila melanogaster testis.

Metabolism participates in the control of stem cell function and subsequent maintenance of tissue homeostasis. How this is achieved in the context of adult stem cell niches in coordination with other local and intrinsic signaling cues is not completely understood. The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) pathway is a master regulator of metabolism and plays essential roles in stem cell maintenance and differentiation. In the Drosophila male germline, mTORC1 is active in germline stem cells (GSCs) and early germ cells. Targeted RNAi-mediated downregulation of mTor in early germ cells causes a block and/or a delay in differentiation, resulting in an accumulation of germ cells with GSC-like features. These early germ cells also contain unusually large and dysfunctional autolysosomes. In addition, downregulation of mTor in adult male GSCs and early germ cells causes non-autonomous activation of mTORC1 in neighboring cyst cells, which correlates with a disruption in the coordination of germline and somatic differentiation. Our study identifies a previously uncharacterized role of the TOR pathway in regulating male germline differentiation.

The septate junction component bark beetle is required for Drosophila intestinal barrier function and homeostasis.

Age-related loss of intestinal barrier function has been documented across species, but the causes remain unknown. The intestinal barrier is maintained by tight junctions (TJs) in mammals and septate junctions (SJs) in insects. Specialized TJs/SJs, called tricellular junctions (TCJs), are located at the nexus of three adjacent cells, and we have shown that aging results in changes to TCJs in intestines of adult Drosophila melanogaster. We now demonstrate that localization of the TCJ protein bark beetle (Bark) decreases in aged flies. Depletion of bark from enterocytes in young flies led to hallmarks of intestinal aging and shortened lifespan, whereas depletion of bark in progenitor cells reduced Notch activity, biasing differentiation toward the secretory lineage. Our data implicate Bark in EC maturation and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity. Understanding the assembly and maintenance of TCJs to ensure barrier integrity may lead to strategies to improve tissue integrity when function is compromised.

Escargot controls somatic stem cell maintenance through the attenuation of the insulin receptor pathway in Drosophila.

Adult stem cells coordinate intrinsic and extrinsic, local and systemic, cues to maintain the proper balance between self-renewal and differentiation. However, the precise mechanisms stem cells use to integrate these signals remain elusive. Here, we show that Escargot (Esg), a member of the Snail family of transcription factors, regulates the maintenance of somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs) in the Drosophila testis by attenuating the activity of the pro-differentiation insulin receptor (InR) pathway. Esg positively regulates the expression of an antagonist of insulin signaling, ImpL2, while also attenuating the expression of InR. Furthermore, Esg-mediated repression of the InR pathway is required to suppress CySC loss in response to starvation. Given the conservation of Snail-family transcription factors, characterizing the mechanisms by which Esg regulates cell-fate decisions during homeostasis and a decline in nutrient availability is likely to provide insight into the metabolic regulation of stem cell behavior in other tissues and organisms.

Culture-Associated DNA Methylation Changes Impact on Cellular Function of Human Intestinal Organoids.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Human intestinal epithelial organoids (IEOs) are a powerful tool to model major aspects of intestinal development, health, and diseases because patient-derived cultures retain many features found in vivo. A necessary aspect of the organoid model is the requirement to expand cultures in vitro through several rounds of passaging. This is of concern because the passaging of cells has been shown to affect cell morphology, ploidy, and function. METHODS: Here, we analyzed 173 human IEO lines derived from the small and large bowel and examined the effect of culture duration on DNA methylation (DNAm). Furthermore, we tested the potential impact of DNAm changes on gene expression and cellular function. RESULTS: Our analyses show a reproducible effect of culture duration on DNAm in a large discovery cohort as well as 2 publicly available validation cohorts generated in different laboratories. Although methylation changes were seen in only approximately 8% of tested cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotides (CpGs) and global cellular function remained stable, a subset of methylation changes correlated with altered gene expression at baseline as well as in response to inflammatory cytokine exposure and withdrawal of Wnt agonists. Importantly, epigenetic changes were found to be enriched in genomic regions associated with colonic cancer and distant to the site of replication, indicating similarities to malignant transformation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows distinct culture-associated epigenetic changes in mucosa-derived human IEOs, some of which appear to impact gene transcriptomic and cellular function. These findings highlight the need for future studies in this area and the importance of considering passage number as a potentially confounding factor.

Drosophila germ-line modulation of insulin signaling and lifespan.

Ablation of germ-line precursor cells in Caenorhabditis elegans extends lifespan by activating DAF-16, a forkhead transcription factor (FOXO) repressed by insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling (IIS). Signals from the gonad might thus regulate whole-organism aging by modulating IIS. To date, the details of this systemic regulation of aging by the reproductive system are not understood, and it is unknown whether such effects are evolutionarily conserved. Here we report that eliminating germ cells (GCs) in Drosophila melanogaster increases lifespan and modulates insulin signaling. Long-lived germ-line-less flies show increased production of Drosophila insulin-like peptides (dilps) and hypoglycemia but simultaneously exhibit several characteristics of IIS impedance, as indicated by up-regulation of the Drosophila FOXO (dFOXO) target genes 4E-BP and l (2)efl and the insulin/IGF-binding protein IMP-L2. These results suggest that signals from the gonad regulate lifespan and modulate insulin sensitivity in the fly and that the gonadal regulation of aging is evolutionarily conserved.

Regeneration, Rejuvenation, and Replacement: Turning Back the Clock on Tissue Aging.

While some animals, such as planaria and hydra, appear to be capable of seemingly endless cycles of regeneration, most animals experience a gradual decline in fitness and ultimately die. The progressive loss of cell and tissue function, leading to senescence and death, is generally referred to as aging. Adult ("tissue") stem cells maintain tissue homeostasis and facilitate repair; however, age-related changes in stem cell function over time are major contributors to loss of organ function or disease in older individuals. Therefore, considerable effort is being invested in restoring stem cell function to counter degenerative diseases and age-related tissue dysfunction. Here, we will review strategies that could be used to restore stem cell function, including the use of environmental interventions, such as diet and exercise, heterochronic approaches, and cellular reprogramming. Maintaining optimal stem cell function and tissue homeostasis into late life will likely extend the amount of time older adults are able to be independent and lead healthy lives.

Redox signaling as a modulator of germline stem cell behavior: Implications for regenerative medicine.

Germline stem cells (GSCs) are crucial for the generation of gametes and propagation of the species. Both intrinsic signaling pathways and environmental cues are employed in order to tightly control GSC behavior, including mitotic divisions, the choice between self-renewal or onset of differentiation, and survival. Recently, oxidation-reduction (redox) signaling has emerged as an important regulator of GSC and gamete behavior across species. In this review, we will highlight the primary mechanisms through which redox signaling acts to influence GSC behavior in different model organisms (Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and Mus musculus). In addition, we will summarize the latest research on the use of antioxidants to support mammalian spermatogenesis and discuss potential strategies for regenerative medicine in humans to enhance reproductive fitness.

Neuroglian regulates Drosophila intestinal stem cell proliferation through enhanced signaling via the epidermal growth factor receptor.

The Drosophila intestine is an excellent system for elucidating mechanisms regulating stem cell behavior. Here we show that the septate junction (SJ) protein Neuroglian (Nrg) is expressed in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and enteroblasts (EBs) within the fly intestine. SJs are not present between ISCs and EBs, suggesting Nrg plays a different role in this tissue. We reveal that Nrg is required for ISC proliferation in young flies, and depletion of Nrg from ISCs and EBs suppresses increased ISC proliferation in aged flies. Conversely, overexpression of Nrg in ISC and EBs promotes ISC proliferation, leading to an increase in cells expressing ISC/EB markers; in addition, we observe an increase in epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr) activation. Genetic epistasis experiments reveal that Nrg acts upstream of Egfr to regulate ISC proliferation. As Nrg function is highly conserved in mammalian systems, our work characterizing the role of Nrg in the intestine has implications for the treatment of intestinal disorders that arise due to altered ISC behavior.

Seminal discoveries in regenerative medicine: contributions of the male germ line to understanding pluripotency.

Germ cells are highly specialized cells that form gametes (sperm and eggs), and they are the only cells within an organism that contribute genes to offspring. Due to the fact that the genetic information contained within germ cells is passed from generation to generation, the germ line is often thought of as immortal. Studies have revealed that germ cells are remarkably similar to pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs). For example, there is a significant overlap in the gene expression profile between ESCs and primordial germ cells (PGCs), the founders of the germ cell lineage. In addition, pluripotent embryonic germ (EG) cell lines have been derived from mammalian PGCs. Secondly, a subset of testicular germ cell tumors, known as non-seminomas, often contain differentiated cells representative of all three germ layers, a definitive test of pluripotency. Lastly, recent results have demonstrated the ability of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) to de-differentiate into pluripotent ES-like cells, underscoring a unique relationship between the germ line and pluripotent cells that are present during the earliest stages of embryonic development. Here, we will review the factors that regulate the self-renewal and maintenance of male germline stem cells (GSCs) and discuss how these factors may allow us to manipulate the germ line to create pluripotent cells that could serve as a critical tool in cell replacement therapies and regenerative medicine.

The impact of ageing on lipid-mediated regulation of adult stem cell behavior and tissue homeostasis.

Adult stem cells sustain tissue homeostasis throughout life and provide an important reservoir of cells capable of tissue repair in response to stress and tissue damage. Age-related changes to stem cells and/or the specialized niches that house them have been shown to negatively impact stem cell maintenance and activity. In addition, metabolic inputs have surfaced as another crucial layer in the control of stem cell behavior (Chandel et al., 2016; Folmes and Terzic, 2016; Ito and Suda, 2014; Mana et al., 2017; Shyh-Chang and Ng, 2017). Here, we will present a brief review of how lipid metabolism influences adult stem cell behavior under homeostatic conditions and speculate on how changes in lipid metabolism may impact stem cell ageing. This review considers the future of lipid metabolism research in stem cells, with the long-term goal of identifying mechanisms that could be targeted to counter or slow the age-related decline in stem cell function.

EGFR signaling promotes basal autophagy for lipid homeostasis and somatic stem cell maintenance in the Drosophila testis.

In contrast to stress-induced macroautophagy/autophagy that happens during nutrient deprivation and other environmental challenges, basal autophagy is thought to be an important mechanism that cells utilize for homeostatic purposes. For instance, basal autophagy is used to recycle damaged and malfunctioning organelles and proteins to provide the building blocks for the generation of new ones throughout life. In addition, specialized autophagic processes, such as lipophagy, the autophagy-induced breakdown of lipid droplets (LDs), and glycophagy (breakdown of glycogen), are employed to maintain proper energy levels in the cell. The importance of autophagy in the regulation of stem cell behavior has been the focus of recent studies. However, the upstream signals that control autophagic activity in stem cells and the precise role of autophagy in stem cells are only starting to be elucidated. In a recent publication, we described how the Egfr (epidermal growth factor receptor) pathway stimulates basal autophagy to support the maintenance of somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs) and to control lipid levels in the Drosophila testis.