Environmental conditions can cause phenotypic changes, part of which can be inherited by subsequent generations via soma-to-germline communication. However, the signaling molecules or pathways that mediate intertissue communication remain unclear. Here, we show that intertissue small RNA communication systems play a key role in the acquisition and inheritance of hormesis effects – stress-induced stress resistance – in Caenorhabditis elegans. The miRNA-processing enzyme DRSH-1 is involved in both the acquisition and the inheritance of hormesis, whereas worm-specific Argonaute (WAGO) proteins, which function with endo-siRNAs, are involved only in its inheritance. Further analyses demonstrate that the miRNA production system in the neuron and the small RNA transport machinery in the intestine are both essential for its acquisition and that both the transport of small RNAs in the germline and the germline Argonaute HRDE-1 complex are required for its inheritance. Our results thus demonstrate that overlapping and distinct roles of small RNA systems in the acquisition and inheritance of hormesis effects.

环境条件会导致表型变化，其中一部分可以通过体细胞到种系的交流被后代继承。然而，介导组织间通讯的信号分子或途径仍不清楚。在这里，我们表明组织间小 RNA 通讯系统在刺激作用的获得和遗传中起着关键作用 - 压力诱导的抗压性 -秀丽隐杆线虫. miRNA 加工酶 DRSH-1 参与兴奋作用的获得和遗传，而与内切 siRNA 一起起作用的蠕虫特异性 Argonaute (WAGO) 蛋白仅参与其遗传。进一步的分析表明，神经元中的 miRNA 生产系统和肠道中的小 RNA 转运机制都是其获得所必需的，并且种系和种系 Argonaute HRDE-1 复合物中的小 RNA 的转运都是其遗传所必需的. 因此，我们的结果表明小 RNA 系统在兴奋效应的获得和遗传中具有重叠和不同的作用。