Maintenance of Stem Cell Niche Integrity by a Novel Activator of Integrin Signaling

Single-cell transcriptome characteristics of testicular terminal epithelium lineages during aging in the Drosophila

Aging is a complex biological process leading to impaired functions, with a variety of hallmarks. In the testis of Drosophila, the terminal epithelium region is involved in spermatid release and maturation, while its functional diversity and regulatory mechanism remain poorly understood. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (scRNA-seq) to characterize the transcriptomes of terminal epithelium in Drosophila testes at 2-, 10 and 40-Days. Terminal epithelium populations were defined with Metallothionein A (MtnA) and subdivided into six novel sub-cell clusters (EP0-EP5), and a series of marker genes were identified based on their expressions. The data revealed the functional characteristics of terminal epithelium populations, such as tight junction, focal adhesion, bacterial invasion, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, proteasome, apoptosis and metabolism. Interestingly, we also found that disrupting genes for several relevant pathways in terminal epithelium led to male fertility disorders. Moreover, we also discovered a series of age-biased genes and pseudotime trajectory mediated state-biased genes during terminal epithelium aging. Differentially expressed genes during terminal epithelium aging were mainly participated in the regulation of several common signatures, e.g. mitochondria-related events, protein synthesis and degradation, and metabolic processes. We further explored the Drosophila divergence and selection in the functional constraints of age-biased genes during aging, revealing that age-biased genes in epithelial cells of 2 Days group evolved rapidly and were endowed with greater evolutionary advantages. scRNA-seq analysis revealed the diversity of testicular terminal epithelium populations, providing a gene target resource for further systematic research of their functions during aging.

Novel Strategy in Searching for Natural Compounds with Anti-Aging and Rejuvenating Potential

We suggest a novel approach for searching natural compounds with anti-aging and rejuvenation potential using cell cultures, with a high potential for the further in vivo applications. The present paper discusses ways of defining age for cell populations with large numbers of cells and suggests a method of assessing how young or old a cell population is based on a cell age profile approach. This approach uses experimental distributions of the cells over the cell cycle stages, acquired using flow cytometry. This paper discusses how such a profile should evolve under homeostatic maintenance of cell numbers in the proliferation niches. We describe promising results from experiments on a commercial substance claiming rejuvenating and anti-aging activity acting upon the cultures of human mononuclear cells and dermal fibroblasts. The chosen substance promotes a shift towards larger proportion of cells in synthesis and proliferation stages, and increases cell culture longevity. Further, we describe promising in vivo testing results of a selected food supplement. Based on the described concept of cell age profile and available test results, a strategy to search for natural compounds with regenerative, anti-aging and rejuvenation potential is suggested and proposed for wider and thorough testing. Proposed methodology of age assessment is rather generic and can be used for quantitative assessment of the anti-aging and rejuvenation potential of different interventions. Further research aimed at the tests of the suggested strategy using more substances and different interventions, and the thorough studies of molecular mechanisms related to the action of the substance used for testing the suggested search methodology, are needed.

Stress-responsive regulation of extracellular proteostasis

Genetic, environmental, and aging-related insults can promote the misfolding and subsequent aggregation of secreted proteins implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. This has led to considerable interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating proteostasis in extracellular environments such as the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Extracellular proteostasis is largely dictated by biological pathways comprising chaperones, folding enzymes, and degradation factors localized to the ER and extracellular space. These pathways limit the accumulation of nonnative, potentially aggregation-prone proteins in extracellular environments. Many reviews discuss the molecular mechanisms by which these pathways impact the conformational integrity of the secreted proteome. Here, we instead focus on describing the stress-responsive mechanisms responsible for adapting ER and extracellular proteostasis pathways to protect the secreted proteome from pathologic insults that challenge these environments. Further, we highlight new strategies to identify stress-responsive pathways involved in regulating extracellular proteostasis and describe the pathologic and therapeutic implications for these pathways in human disease.

Proliferative stem cells maintain quiescence of their niche by secreting the Activin inhibitor Follistatin

Aging causes stem cell dysfunction as a result of extrinsic and intrinsic changes. Decreased function of the stem cell niche is an important contributor to this dysfunction. We use the Drosophila testis to investigate what factors maintain niche cells. The testis niche comprises quiescent “hub” cells and supports two mitotic stem cell pools: germline stem cells and somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs). We identify the cell-cycle-responsive Dp/E2f1 transcription factor as a crucial non-autonomous regulator required in CySCs to maintain hub cell quiescence. Dp/E2f1 inhibits local Activin ligands through production of the Activin antagonist Follistatin (Fs). Inactivation of Dp/E2f1 or Fs in CySCs or promoting Activin receptor signaling in hub cells causes transdifferentiation of hub cells into fully functional CySCs. This Activin-dependent communication between CySCs and hub regulates the physiological decay of the niche with age and demonstrates that hub cell quiescence results from signals from surrounding stem cells.

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Dp/E2f1 is required in stem cells to non-autonomously maintain niche quiescence

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Dp/E2f1 promotes niche quiescence through Fs, an Activin antagonist

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Activin signaling in niche cells causes transdifferentiation into functional stem cells

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Fs in stem cells regulates the physiological decay of the niche with age

Local and Physiological Control of Germline Stem Cell Lineages in Drosophila melanogaster

The long-term survival of any multicellular species depends on the success of its germline in producing high-quality gametes and maximizing survival of the offspring. Studies in Drosophila melanogaster have led our growing understanding of how germline stem cell (GSC) lineages maintain their function and adjust their behavior according to varying environmental and/or physiological conditions. This review compares and contrasts the local regulation of GSCs by their specialized microenvironments, or niches; discusses how diet and diet-dependent factors, mating, and microorganisms modulate GSCs and their developing progeny; and briefly describes the tie between physiology and development during the larval phase of the germline cycle. Finally, it concludes with broad comparisons with other organisms and some future directions for further investigation.

YAP/Yorkie in the germline modulates the age-related decline of germline stem cells and niche cells

The properties and behaviour of stem cells rely heavily on signaling from the local microenvironment. At the apical end of Drosophila testis, self-renewal and differentiation of germline stem cells (GSCs) are tightly controlled by distinct somatic cells that comprise a specialised stem cell niche known as the hub. The hub maintains GSC homeostasis through adhesion and cell signaling. The Salvador/Warts/Hippo (SWH) pathway, which suppresses the transcriptional co-activator YAP/Yki via a kinase cascade, is a known regulator of stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, we show that increasing YAP/Yki expression in the germline, as well as reducing Warts levels, blocks the decrease of GSC numbers observed in aging flies, with only a small increase on their proliferation. An increased expression of YAP/Yki in the germline or a reduction in Warts levels also stymies an age-related reduction in hub cell number, suggesting a bilateral relationship between GSCs and the hub. Conversely, RNAi-based knockdown of YAP/Yki in the germline leads to a significant drop in hub cell number, further suggesting the existence of such a SC-to-niche relationship. All together, our data implicate the SWH pathway in Drosophila GSC maintenance and raise questions about its role in stem cell homeostasis in aging organisms.

Srlp is crucial for the self-renewal and differentiation of germline stem cells via RpL6 signals in Drosophila testes

Self-renewal and differentiation in germline stem cells (GSCs) are tightly regulated by the stem cell niche and via multiple approaches. In our previous study, we screened the novel GSC regulatory gene Srlp in Drosophila testes. However, the underlying mechanistic links between Srlp and the stem cell niche remain largely undetermined. Here, using genetic manipulation of the Drosophila model, we systematically analyze the function and mechanism of Srlp in vivo and in vitro. In Drosophila, Srlp is an essential gene that regulates the self-renewal and differentiation of GSCs in the testis. In the in vitro assay, Srlp is found to control the proliferation ability and cell death in S2 cells, which is consistent with the phenotype observed in Drosophila testis. Furthermore, results of the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) reveal that RpL6 binds to Srlp. Srlp also regulates the expression of spliceosome and ribosome subunits and controls spliceosome and ribosome function via RpL6 signals. Collectively, our findings uncover the genetic causes and molecular mechanisms underlying the stem cell niche. This study provides new insights for elucidating the pathogenic mechanism of male sterility and the formation of testicular germ cell tumor.

Maintenance of Proper Germline Stem Cell Number Requires Adipocyte Collagen in Adult Drosophila Females

Stem cells reside in specialized niches and are regulated by a variety of physiological inputs. Adipocytes influence whole-body physiology and stem cell lineages; however, the molecular mechanisms linking adipocytes to stem cells are poorly understood. Here, we report that collagen IV produced in adipocytes is transported to the ovary to maintain proper germline stem cell (GSC) number in adult Drosophila females. Adipocyte-derived collagen IV acts through β-integrin signaling to maintain normal levels of E-cadherin at the niche, thereby ensuring proper adhesion to GSCs. These findings demonstrate that extracellular matrix components produced in adipocytes can be transported to and incorporated into an established adult tissue to influence stem cell number.

Mechanical stress regulates insulin sensitivity through integrin-dependent control of insulin receptor localization

Kim et al. show that insulin signaling in Drosophila adipocytes is abolished in the absence of physical activity and mechanical stress. The insulin receptor and downstream components are recruited to the plasma membrane upon stress sensing mediated by integrins.

Insulin resistance, the failure to activate insulin signaling in the presence of ligand, leads to metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Physical activity and mechanical stress have been shown to protect against insulin resistance, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we address this relationship in the Drosophila larval fat body, an insulin-sensitive organ analogous to vertebrate adipose tissue and livers. We found that insulin signaling in Drosophila fat body cells is abolished in the absence of physical activity and mechanical stress even when excess insulin is present. Physical movement is required for insulin sensitivity in both intact larvae and fat bodies cultured ex vivo. Interestingly, the insulin receptor and other downstream components are recruited to the plasma membrane in response to mechanical stress, and this membrane localization is rapidly lost upon disruption of larval or tissue movement. Sensing of mechanical stimuli is mediated in part by integrins, whose activation is necessary and sufficient for mechanical stress-dependent insulin signaling. Insulin resistance develops naturally during the transition from the active larval stage to the immotile pupal stage, suggesting that regulation of insulin sensitivity by mechanical stress may help coordinate developmental programming with metabolism.

The endoplasmic reticulum HSP40 co-chaperone ERdj3/DNAJB11 assembles and functions as a tetramer

ERdj3/DNAJB11 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeted HSP40 co-chaperone that performs multifaceted functions involved in coordinating ER and extracellular proteostasis. Here, we show that ERdj3 assembles into a native tetramer that is distinct from the dimeric structure observed for other HSP40 co-chaperones. An electron microscopy structural model of full-length ERdj3 shows that these tetramers are arranged as a dimer of dimers formed by distinct inter-subunit interactions involving ERdj3 domain II and domain III Targeted deletion of residues 175-190 within domain II renders ERdj3 a stable dimer that is folded and efficiently secreted from mammalian cells. This dimeric ERdj3 shows impaired substrate binding both in the ER and extracellular environments and reduced interactions with the ER HSP70 chaperone BiP. Furthermore, we show that overexpression of dimeric ERdj3 exacerbates ER stress-dependent reductions in the secretion of a destabilized, aggregation-prone protein and increases its accumulation as soluble oligomers in extracellular environments. These results reveal ERdj3 tetramerization as an important structural framework for ERdj3 functions involved in coordinating ER and extracellular proteostasis in the presence and absence of ER stress.

Regulating Secretory Proteostasis through the Unfolded Protein Response: From Function to Therapy

Imbalances in secretory proteostasis induced by genetic, environmental, or aging-related insults are pathologically associated with etiologically diverse protein misfolding diseases. To protect the secretory proteome from these insults, organisms evolved stress-responsive signaling pathways that regulate the composition and activity of biologic pathways involved in secretory proteostasis maintenance. The most prominent of these is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPR), which functions to regulate ER proteostasis in response to ER stress. While the signaling mechanisms involved in UPR activation are well defined, the impact of UPR activation on secretory proteostasis is only now becoming clear. Here, we highlight recent reports defining how activation of select UPR signaling pathways influences proteostasis within the ER and downstream secretory environments. Furthermore, we describe recent evidence that highlights the therapeutic potential for targeting UPR signaling pathways to correct pathologic disruption in secretory proteostasis associated with diverse types of protein misfolding diseases.

Activity-Induced Synaptic Structural Modifications by an Activator of Integrin Signaling at the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction

Activity-induced synaptic structural modification is crucial for neural development and synaptic plasticity, but the molecular players involved in this process are not well defined. Here, we report that a protein named Shriveled (Shv) regulates synaptic growth and activity-dependent synaptic remodeling at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. Depletion of Shv causes synaptic overgrowth and an accumulation of immature boutons. We find that Shv physically and genetically interacts with βPS integrin. Furthermore, Shv is secreted during intense, but not mild, neuronal activity to acutely activate integrin signaling, induce synaptic bouton enlargement, and increase postsynaptic glutamate receptor abundance. Consequently, loss of Shv prevents activity-induced synapse maturation and abolishes post-tetanic potentiation, a form of synaptic plasticity. Our data identify Shv as a novel trans-synaptic signal secreted upon intense neuronal activity to promote synapse remodeling through integrin receptor signaling.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The ability of neurons to rapidly modify synaptic structure in response to neuronal activity, a process called activity-induced structural remodeling, is crucial for neuronal development and complex brain functions. The molecular players that are important for this fundamental biological process are not well understood. Here we show that the Shriveled (Shv) protein is required during development to maintain normal synaptic growth. We further demonstrate that Shv is selectively released during intense neuronal activity, but not mild neuronal activity, to acutely activate integrin signaling and trigger structural modifications at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. This work identifies Shv as a key modulator of activity-induced structural remodeling and suggests that neurons use distinct molecular cues to differentially modulate synaptic growth and remodeling to meet synaptic demand.