Insulin Signaling in Intestinal Stem and Progenitor Cells as an Important Determinant of Physiological and Metabolic Traits in <i>Drosophila</i>

The insulin&#8722;IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway is conserved throughout multicellular organisms and regulates many traits, including aging, reproduction, feeding, metabolism, stress resistance, and growth. Here, we present evidence of a survival-sustaining role for IIS in a subset of gut cells i...

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Main Authors: Olha M. Strilbytska, Uliana V. Semaniuk, Kenneth B. Storey, Ihor S. Yurkevych, Oleh Lushchak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
Series:Cells
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/4/803
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author Olha M. Strilbytska
Uliana V. Semaniuk
Kenneth B. Storey
Ihor S. Yurkevych
Oleh Lushchak
author_facet Olha M. Strilbytska
Uliana V. Semaniuk
Kenneth B. Storey
Ihor S. Yurkevych
Oleh Lushchak
author_sort Olha M. Strilbytska
collection DOAJ
description The insulin&#8722;IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway is conserved throughout multicellular organisms and regulates many traits, including aging, reproduction, feeding, metabolism, stress resistance, and growth. Here, we present evidence of a survival-sustaining role for IIS in a subset of gut cells in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>, namely the intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and progenitor cells. Using RNAi to knockdown the insulin receptor, we found that inhibition of IIS in ISCs statistically shortened the lifespan of experimental flies compared with non-knockdown controls, and also shortened their survival under starvation or malnutrition conditions. These flies also showed decreased reproduction and feeding, and had lower amounts of glycogen and glucose in the body. In addition, increased expression was observed for the <i>Drosophila</i> transcripts for the insulin-like peptides <i>dilp2</i>, <i>dilp5</i>, and <i>dilp6.</i> This may reflect increased insulin signaling in peripheral tissues supported by up-regulation of the target of the brain insulin gene (<i>tobi</i>). In contrast, activation of IIS (via knockdown of the insulin pathway inhibitor PTEN) in intestinal stem and progenitor cells decreased fly resistance to malnutrition, potentially by affecting adipokinetic hormone signaling. Finally, <i>Pten</i> knockdown to enhance IIS also activated JAK&#8722;STAT signaling in gut tissue by up-regulation of <i>upd2</i>, <i>upd3</i>, and <i>soc36 </i>genes, as well as genes encoding the EGF receptor ligands <i>spitz</i> and <i>vein</i>. These results clearly demonstrate that manipulating insulin levels may be used to modulate various fly traits, which are important determinants of organismal survival.
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spelling doaj.art-4e309a923d874bbbb02a3ec1aa39fa422023-09-02T21:05:45ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092020-03-019480310.3390/cells9040803cells9040803Insulin Signaling in Intestinal Stem and Progenitor Cells as an Important Determinant of Physiological and Metabolic Traits in <i>Drosophila</i>Olha M. Strilbytska0Uliana V. Semaniuk1Kenneth B. Storey2Ihor S. Yurkevych3Oleh Lushchak4Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str., 76018 Ivano-Frankivsk, UkraineDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str., 76018 Ivano-Frankivsk, UkraineInstitute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, CanadaDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str., 76018 Ivano-Frankivsk, UkraineDepartment of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, 57 Shevchenka str., 76018 Ivano-Frankivsk, UkraineThe insulin&#8722;IGF-1 signaling (IIS) pathway is conserved throughout multicellular organisms and regulates many traits, including aging, reproduction, feeding, metabolism, stress resistance, and growth. Here, we present evidence of a survival-sustaining role for IIS in a subset of gut cells in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>, namely the intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and progenitor cells. Using RNAi to knockdown the insulin receptor, we found that inhibition of IIS in ISCs statistically shortened the lifespan of experimental flies compared with non-knockdown controls, and also shortened their survival under starvation or malnutrition conditions. These flies also showed decreased reproduction and feeding, and had lower amounts of glycogen and glucose in the body. In addition, increased expression was observed for the <i>Drosophila</i> transcripts for the insulin-like peptides <i>dilp2</i>, <i>dilp5</i>, and <i>dilp6.</i> This may reflect increased insulin signaling in peripheral tissues supported by up-regulation of the target of the brain insulin gene (<i>tobi</i>). In contrast, activation of IIS (via knockdown of the insulin pathway inhibitor PTEN) in intestinal stem and progenitor cells decreased fly resistance to malnutrition, potentially by affecting adipokinetic hormone signaling. Finally, <i>Pten</i> knockdown to enhance IIS also activated JAK&#8722;STAT signaling in gut tissue by up-regulation of <i>upd2</i>, <i>upd3</i>, and <i>soc36 </i>genes, as well as genes encoding the EGF receptor ligands <i>spitz</i> and <i>vein</i>. These results clearly demonstrate that manipulating insulin levels may be used to modulate various fly traits, which are important determinants of organismal survival.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/4/803insulin signaling pathwaymidgutiscprogenitor cellslifespanmetabolismfruit fly
spellingShingle Olha M. Strilbytska
Uliana V. Semaniuk
Kenneth B. Storey
Ihor S. Yurkevych
Oleh Lushchak
Insulin Signaling in Intestinal Stem and Progenitor Cells as an Important Determinant of Physiological and Metabolic Traits in <i>Drosophila</i>
Cells
insulin signaling pathway
midgut
isc
progenitor cells
lifespan
metabolism
fruit fly
title Insulin Signaling in Intestinal Stem and Progenitor Cells as an Important Determinant of Physiological and Metabolic Traits in <i>Drosophila</i>
title_full Insulin Signaling in Intestinal Stem and Progenitor Cells as an Important Determinant of Physiological and Metabolic Traits in <i>Drosophila</i>
title_fullStr Insulin Signaling in Intestinal Stem and Progenitor Cells as an Important Determinant of Physiological and Metabolic Traits in <i>Drosophila</i>
title_full_unstemmed Insulin Signaling in Intestinal Stem and Progenitor Cells as an Important Determinant of Physiological and Metabolic Traits in <i>Drosophila</i>
title_short Insulin Signaling in Intestinal Stem and Progenitor Cells as an Important Determinant of Physiological and Metabolic Traits in <i>Drosophila</i>
title_sort insulin signaling in intestinal stem and progenitor cells as an important determinant of physiological and metabolic traits in i drosophila i
topic insulin signaling pathway
midgut
isc
progenitor cells
lifespan
metabolism
fruit fly
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/4/803
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