Retinoblastoma Intrinsically Regulates Niche Cell Quiescence, Identity, and Niche Number in the Adult Drosophila Testis

Summary: Homeostasis in adult tissues depends on the precise regulation of stem cells and their surrounding microenvironments, or niches. Here, we show that the cell cycle inhibitor and tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma (RB) is a critical regulator of niche cells in the Drosophila testis. The testis c...

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Main Authors: Leah J. Greenspan, Erika L. Matunis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-09-01
Series:Cell Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124718313871
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author Leah J. Greenspan
Erika L. Matunis
author_facet Leah J. Greenspan
Erika L. Matunis
author_sort Leah J. Greenspan
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Homeostasis in adult tissues depends on the precise regulation of stem cells and their surrounding microenvironments, or niches. Here, we show that the cell cycle inhibitor and tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma (RB) is a critical regulator of niche cells in the Drosophila testis. The testis contains a single niche, composed of somatic hub cells, that signals to adjacent germline and somatic stem cells. Hub cells are normally quiescent, but knockdown of the RB homolog Rbf in these cells causes them to proliferate and convert to somatic stem cells. Over time, mutant hub cell clusters enlarge and split apart, forming ectopic hubs surrounded by active stem cells. Furthermore, we show that Rbf’s ability to restrict niche number depends on the transcription factors E2F and Escargot and the adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Together this work reveals how precise modulation of niche cells, not only the stem cells they support, can drive regeneration and disease. : Greenspan and Matunis find that the tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma is required in niche cells to maintain quiescence, cell fate, and niche number. Loss of Retinoblastoma causes niche cell divisions, conversion to somatic stem cells, and ectopic niche formation through niche fission, suggesting that mutations in niche cells may drive disease. Keywords: stem cell niche, Drosophila testis, Retinoblastoma, hub cell, niche cell, cel quiescence, cell fate conversion, transdifferentiation, niche fission, live imaging
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spelling doaj.art-c8a91e68d970452d8fa0b79f41f1fbd62022-12-22T01:10:43ZengElsevierCell Reports2211-12472018-09-01241334663476.e8Retinoblastoma Intrinsically Regulates Niche Cell Quiescence, Identity, and Niche Number in the Adult Drosophila TestisLeah J. Greenspan0Erika L. Matunis1Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USADepartment of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Corresponding authorSummary: Homeostasis in adult tissues depends on the precise regulation of stem cells and their surrounding microenvironments, or niches. Here, we show that the cell cycle inhibitor and tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma (RB) is a critical regulator of niche cells in the Drosophila testis. The testis contains a single niche, composed of somatic hub cells, that signals to adjacent germline and somatic stem cells. Hub cells are normally quiescent, but knockdown of the RB homolog Rbf in these cells causes them to proliferate and convert to somatic stem cells. Over time, mutant hub cell clusters enlarge and split apart, forming ectopic hubs surrounded by active stem cells. Furthermore, we show that Rbf’s ability to restrict niche number depends on the transcription factors E2F and Escargot and the adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Together this work reveals how precise modulation of niche cells, not only the stem cells they support, can drive regeneration and disease. : Greenspan and Matunis find that the tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma is required in niche cells to maintain quiescence, cell fate, and niche number. Loss of Retinoblastoma causes niche cell divisions, conversion to somatic stem cells, and ectopic niche formation through niche fission, suggesting that mutations in niche cells may drive disease. Keywords: stem cell niche, Drosophila testis, Retinoblastoma, hub cell, niche cell, cel quiescence, cell fate conversion, transdifferentiation, niche fission, live imaginghttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124718313871
spellingShingle Leah J. Greenspan
Erika L. Matunis
Retinoblastoma Intrinsically Regulates Niche Cell Quiescence, Identity, and Niche Number in the Adult Drosophila Testis
Cell Reports
title Retinoblastoma Intrinsically Regulates Niche Cell Quiescence, Identity, and Niche Number in the Adult Drosophila Testis
title_full Retinoblastoma Intrinsically Regulates Niche Cell Quiescence, Identity, and Niche Number in the Adult Drosophila Testis
title_fullStr Retinoblastoma Intrinsically Regulates Niche Cell Quiescence, Identity, and Niche Number in the Adult Drosophila Testis
title_full_unstemmed Retinoblastoma Intrinsically Regulates Niche Cell Quiescence, Identity, and Niche Number in the Adult Drosophila Testis
title_short Retinoblastoma Intrinsically Regulates Niche Cell Quiescence, Identity, and Niche Number in the Adult Drosophila Testis
title_sort retinoblastoma intrinsically regulates niche cell quiescence identity and niche number in the adult drosophila testis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211124718313871
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