Redox Homeostasis Plays Important Roles in the Maintenance of the Drosophila Testis Germline Stem Cells.

Oxidative stress influences stem cell behavior by promoting the differentiation, proliferation, or apoptosis of stem cells. Thus, characterizing the effects of reactive oxygen species on stem cell behavior provides insights into the significance of redox homeostasis in stem cell-associated diseases and efficient stem cell expansion for cellular therapies. We utilized the Drosophila testis as an in vivo model to examine the effects of on germline stem cell (GSC) maintenance. High levels of duanyu1670 induced by alteration in Keap1/Nrf2 activity decreased GSC number by promoting precocious GSC differentiation. Notably, high duanyu1670 enhanced the transcription of the EGFR ligand spitz and the expression of phospho-Erk1/2, suggesting that high GSC differentiation is through EGFR signaling. By contrast, testes with low duanyu1670 caused by Keap1 inhibition or antioxidant treatment showed an overgrowth of GSC-like cells. These findings suggest that redox homeostasis regulated by Keap1/Nrf2 signaling plays important roles in GSC maintenance.

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