Gut-Brain Dialogues in Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster): How Peptide Hormones Bridge Metabolism, Longevity, and Behavioral Adaptation

BACKGROUND: Gut-peptide hormones are crucial regulators of various physiological processes, including metabolism, digestion, behavior, and homeostasis. In Drosophila melanogaster, a widely used model organism, a diverse range of gut-peptide hormones governs gut-brain communication, influencing food intake, energy balance, circadian rhythms, stress responses, and aging. OBJECTIVE: This review summarizes recent studies on gut-peptide hormones in D. melanogaster, focusing on their mechanisms of action, interactions with other signaling pathways, and their relevance to human orthologs. METHODS: The PubMed database was searched for studies on gut-peptide hormones in D. melanogaster published in the past decade. RESULTS: The functions of D. melanogaster gut-peptide hormones were reviewed, including DH31, Bursicon (Burs), Tachykinins (Tks), Hedgehog (Hh), Pigment-dispersing factor (PDF), Neuropeptide F (NPF), Short neuropeptide F (sNPF), Allatostatins (ASTs), CCHamides (CCHa), and Limostatin (Lst). These hormones regulate key physiological processes such as digestion, energy homeostasis, and metabolism through conserved pathways. CONCLUSION: Drosophila melanogaster gut-peptide hormones are fundamental regulators of health and disease. They are conducive to exploring conserved mechanisms for developing treatments against human metabolic and aging disorders.