Epigenetic regulation of intestinal stem cell pathophysiology in Drosophila melanogaster: new links to gut inflammation and malignant transformation

Chronic inflammatory disorders are often associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. A classic example of the connection between inflammation and cancer is the increased risk of colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. There is considerable evidence that genetic and environmental factors act through epigenetic mechanisms in the development of chronic inflammation, altering the expression of genes involved in signalling pathways, which leads to the transformation of normal stem cells into cancer cells. In this study, by using Drosophila melanogaster as an in vivo experimental model, we plan to identify the tissue-specific contribution of epigenetic changes in induced intestinal damage and the regenerative capacity of intestinal stem cells, aiming to provide novel insights into the complex interplay between environmental stress, genetics, epigenetics, inflammation and cancer.