The enteric microbiota is widely known to influence gut homeostasis both in mammals and insects, but the mechanisms behind these interactions are largely unknown. Previous studies have shown that the commensal bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum induces generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activates CncC/Nrf2 signalling in Drosophila intestinal epithelia. Now, Rheinallt Jones and colleagues describe how L. plantarum-induced redox signalling activates proliferation of stem cells in the Drosophila larval midgut, which is composed of differentiated enterocytes and undifferentiated adult midgut progenitors (AMPs). By treating larvae with L. plantarum, the researchers discover that ROS are confined to enterocytes, creating a ‘ROS sheltered zone’ around AMPs. In response to ROS, enterocytes activate CncC/Nrf2 signalling, which induces proliferation in the AMP population. Furthermore, L. plantarum induces expression of the cytokine-encoding gene upd2 in the gut, which acts downstream of CncC/Nrf2 signalling to induce AMP proliferation through the JAK/STAT pathway. This work builds upon previous findings to reveal a mechanistic link between L. plantarum-induced ROS generation and AMP proliferation.
Redox signalling: a gut reaction to microbiota for activating proliferation
- Split-screen
- Views Icon Views
-
Article Versions Icon
Versions
- Version of Record 01 February 2019
- Share Icon Share
-
Tools Icon
Tools
- Search Site
Redox signalling: a gut reaction to microbiota for activating proliferation. Development 1 February 2019; 146 (3): e0302. doi:
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
About us

Our publisher, The Company of Biologists, turns 100 this year. Read about the history of the Company and find out what Sarah Bray, our Chair of the Board of Directors, has to say.
Biologists @ 100 - join us in Liverpool in March 2025

We are excited to invite you to a unique scientific conference, celebrating the 100-year anniversary of The Company of Biologists, and bringing together our different communities. The conference will incorporate the Spring Meetings of the BSCB and the BSDB, the JEB Symposium Sensory Perception in a Changing World and a DMM programme on antimicrobial resistance. Find out more and register by 28 February 2025 to join us in March 2025 in Liverpool, UK.
Call for papers – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues

Development invites you to submit your latest research to our upcoming special issue – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues. This issue will be coordinated by Guest Editors Meritxell Huch (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Germany) and Mansi Srivastava (Harvard University and Museum of Comparative Zoology, USA), working alongside our team of academic Editors. Submit your articles by 15 May 2025.
A case for broadening our view of mechanism in developmental biology

In this Perspective, B. Duygu Özpolat and colleagues survey researchers on their views on what it takes to infer mechanism in developmental biology. They examine what factors shape our idea of what we mean by ‘mechanism’ and suggest a path forward that embraces a broad outlook on the diversity of studies that advance knowledge in our field.
In preprints
Did you know that Development publishes perspectives on recent preprints? These articles help our readers navigate the ever-growing preprint literature. We welcome proposals for ‘In preprints’ articles, so please do get in touch if you’d like to contribute.