article published yes Qingyin Qian author Hiroki Nagai author 608df3e6-e2ab-11ed-8890-c9318cec7da40000-0003-1671-9434 Yuya Sanaki author Makoto Hayashi author Kenichi Kimura author Yu Ichiro Nakajima author Ryusuke Niwa author XiFe department Cellular plasticity, the ability of a differentiated cell to adopt another phenotypic identity, is restricted under basal conditions, but can be elicited upon damage. However, the molecular mechanism enabling such plasticity remains largely unexplored. Here, we report damage-induced cellular plasticity of secretory enteroendocrine cells (EEs) in the adult Drosophila midgut. Ionizing radiation induces EE fate conversion and activates stress-responsive programs in EE lineages, accompanied by the induction of the stress-inducible transcription factor Xrp1 and the cytokine gene upd3. Xrp1 and upd3 are both necessary for radiation-induced EE plasticity. Under basal conditions, EE-specific Xrp1 overexpression triggers ectopic expression of progenitor-specific genes, which is necessary for Xrp1 to drive EE plasticity. Our work identifies Xrp1 as a crucial regulator that coordinates damage-induced signaling and transcriptional reprogramming, enabling the reactivation of cellular plasticity in differentiated cells. The Company of Biologists2026 eng 0950-1991 1477-9129 4139270810.1242/dev.205225 1532 Q. Qian, H. NAGAI, Y. Sanaki, M. Hayashi, K. Kimura, Y.I. Nakajima, R. Niwa, Development 153 (2026). Qian, Qingyin, HIROKI NAGAI, Yuya Sanaki, Makoto Hayashi, Kenichi Kimura, Yu Ichiro Nakajima, and Ryusuke Niwa. “Xrp1 Drives Damage-Induced Cellular Plasticity of Enteroendocrine Cells in the Adult Drosophila Midgut.” <i>Development</i>. The Company of Biologists, 2026. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.205225">https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.205225</a>. Qian, Qingyin, et al. “Xrp1 Drives Damage-Induced Cellular Plasticity of Enteroendocrine Cells in the Adult Drosophila Midgut.” <i>Development</i>, vol. 153, no. 2, dev205225, The Company of Biologists, 2026, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.205225">10.1242/dev.205225</a>. Qian, Q., NAGAI, H., Sanaki, Y., Hayashi, M., Kimura, K., Nakajima, Y. I., &#38; Niwa, R. (2026). Xrp1 drives damage-induced cellular plasticity of enteroendocrine cells in the adult Drosophila midgut. <i>Development</i>. The Company of Biologists. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.205225">https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.205225</a> Qian Q, NAGAI H, Sanaki Y, Hayashi M, Kimura K, Nakajima YI, Niwa R. 2026. Xrp1 drives damage-induced cellular plasticity of enteroendocrine cells in the adult Drosophila midgut. Development. 153(2), dev205225. Q. Qian <i>et al.</i>, “Xrp1 drives damage-induced cellular plasticity of enteroendocrine cells in the adult Drosophila midgut,” <i>Development</i>, vol. 153, no. 2. The Company of Biologists, 2026. Qian Q, NAGAI H, Sanaki Y, et al. Xrp1 drives damage-induced cellular plasticity of enteroendocrine cells in the adult Drosophila midgut. <i>Development</i>. 2026;153(2). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.205225">10.1242/dev.205225</a> 210392026-01-25T23:01:39Z2026-02-12T12:41:18Z