Maintaining tissue homeostasis: dynamic control of somatic stem cell activity.

Abstract

Long-term maintenance of tissue homeostasis relies on the accurate regulation of somatic stem cell activity. Somatic stem cells have to respond to tissue damage and proliferate according to tissue requirements while avoiding overproliferation. The regulatory mechanisms involved in these responses are now being unraveled in the intestinal epithelium of Drosophila, providing new insight into strategies and mechanisms of stem cell regulation in barrier epithelia. Here, we review these studies and highlight recent findings in vertebrate epithelia that indicate significant conservation of regenerative strategies between vertebrate and fly epithelia.