In adult insects, as in vertebrates, the gut epithelium is a highly regenerative tissue that can renew itself rapidly in response to changing inputs from nutrition, the gut microbiota, ingested toxins, and signals from other organs. Because of its cellular and genetic similarities to the mammalian intestine, and its relevance as a target for the control of insect pests and disease vectors, many researchers have used insect intestines to address fundamental questions about stem cell functions during tissue maintenance and regeneration. In Drosophila, where most of the experimental work has been performed, not only are intestinal cell types and behaviors well characterized, but numerous cell signaling interactions have been detailed that mediate gut epithelial regeneration. A prevailing model for regenerative responses in the insect gut invokes stress sensing by damaged enterocytes (ECs) as a principal source for signaling that activates the division of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and the growth and differentiation of their progeny. However, extant data also reveal alternative mechanisms for regeneration that involve ISC-intrinsic functions, active culling of healthy epithelial cells, enhanced EC growth, and even cytoplasmic shedding by infected ECs. This article reviews current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in gut regeneration in several insect models (Drosophila and Aedes of the order Diptera, and several Lepidoptera).

中文翻译：

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昆虫肠道再生

在成虫中，与在脊椎动物中一样，肠道上皮细胞是一种高度可再生的组织，可以快速自我更新，以响应来自营养、肠道微生物群、摄入的毒素和来自其他器官的信号的变化输入。由于其与哺乳动物肠道的细胞和遗传相似性，以及它作为控制害虫和疾病媒介的目标的相关性，许多研究人员已经使用昆虫肠道来解决有关组织维持和再生过程中干细胞功能的基本问题。在果蝇在进行了大部分实验工作的地方，不仅肠细胞类型和行为得到了很好的表征，而且还详细介绍了许多介导肠上皮再生的细胞信号传导相互作用。昆虫肠道再生反应的流行模型将受损肠细胞 (EC) 的压力感应作为信号的主要来源，从而激活肠道干细胞 (ISC) 的分裂及其后代的生长和分化。然而，现有数据也揭示了再生的替代机制，包括 ISC 内在功能、健康上皮细胞的主动剔除、EC 生长增强，甚至感染 ECs 的细胞质脱落。本文回顾了目前在几种昆虫模型中参与肠道再生的分子机制的知识（双翅目果蝇和伊蚊，以及几种鳞翅目）。