Elimination of plasmatocytes by targeted apoptosis reveals their role in multiple aspects of the Drosophila immune response.

ABSTRACT: Drosophila hemocytes have strong phagocytic capacities and produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, the precise role of blood cells during immune responses and developmental processes has only been studied using indirect means. To overcome this limitation, we generated plasmatocyte-depleted flies by specifically overexpressing the proapoptotic protein Hid into plasmatocytes. Unexpectedly, these plasmatocyte-depleted animals have a normal larval and pupal development and do not exhibit any obvious defect after birth. Remarkably, plasmatocyte-depleted adults show a strong susceptibility to infections by various microorganisms, although activation of systemic AMP gene transcription via the Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) pathways is wild-type. Our data show that this susceptibility, w

SUBMITTER: Charroux B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2700997 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature