Expansion of Drosophila haemocytes using a conditional GeneSwitch driver affects larval haemocyte function, but does not modulate adult lifespan or survival after severe infection.

ABSTRACT: Macrophages are responsible for diverse and fundamental functions in vertebrates. Drosophila blood cells (haemocytes) are dominated by cells bearing a striking homology to vertebrate macrophages (plasmatocytes). The importance of haemocytes has been demonstrated previously, with immune and developmental phenotypes observed upon haemocyte ablation. Here, we show that we can increase Hemolectin (Hml)-positive cell numbers using a constitutively active form of ras and ablate Hml-positive cell numbers using the pro-apoptotic transgene bax. However, compared with larvae, total blood cell numbers in adults were not significantly affected by experimental expansion or ablation, implying the existence of feedback mechanisms regulating haemocyte numbers. No effect on lifespan was observed from drivi

SUBMITTER: Hayman DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12079669 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature