Stem cell derived signals in epithelial homeostasis and ageing

Declining intestinal function is an important contributor to poor health in ageing. The epithelium that lines the intestine is constantly turned over throughout adult life. Cells lost from the surface are replaced by the division of stem cells. Stem cells must be tightly regulated: producing too few cells may lead to tissue failure; and too many results in dysplasia, as seen in the aged intestine. Signals from the surrounding microenvironment regulate stem cell proliferation to maintain homeostasis. Recent work from our group and others has shown that stem cells themselves express signals that can influence their own microenvironment. This project will use the relatively simple, genetically tractable Drosophila intestinal stem cells to study the importance of signals from stem cells in tissue homeostasis and its breakdown with age.