Abstract
The discovery of Drosophila stem cells with striking similarities to mammalian stem cells has brought new hope for stem cell research. Recent developments in Drosophila stem cell research is bringing wider opportunities for contemporary stem cell biologists. In this regard, Drosophila germ cells are becoming a popular model of stem cell research. In several cases, genes that controlled Drosophila stem cells were later discovered to have functional homologs in mammalian stem cells. Like mammals, Drosophila germline stem cells (GSCs) are controlled by both intrinsic as well as external signals. Inside the Drosophila testes, germline and somatic stem cells form a cluster of cells (the hub). Hub cells depend on JAK-STAT signaling, and, in absence of this signal, they do not self-renew. In Drosophila, significant changes occur within the stem cell niche that contributes to a decline in stem cell number over time. In case of aging Drosophila, somatic niche cells show reduced DE-cadherin and unpaired (Upd) proteins. Unpaired proteins are known to directly decrease stem cell number within the niches, and, overexpression of upd within niche cells restored GSCs in older males also. Stem cells in the midgut of Drosophila are also very promising. Reduced Notch signaling was found to increase the number of midgut progenitor cells. On the other hand, activation of the Notch pathway decreased proliferation of these cells. Further research in this area should lead to the discovery of additional factors that regulate stem and progenitor cells in Drosophila.
Highlights
The fundamental property of stem cells that they can differentiate into various types of cells, but can renew the stem cell population, is the basis of progressive regenerative medicine[1]
Drosophila germline and midgut stem cells are currently being established as important models of stem cell research
Several factors including bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signals were found to be indispensable for sustaining germline stem cells (GSCs) in Drosophila
Summary
The fundamental property of stem cells that they can differentiate into various types of cells, but can renew the stem cell population, is the basis of progressive regenerative medicine[1]. Stem cell niches control important properties of stem cells including self-renewing potential[2]. Drosophila germ cells are established as a crucial model of stem cells. Analysis of the recent literature Drosophila ovary contains both germline and somatic stem cells that reside within the anterior region of each ovariole[3].
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