Transdifferentiation of plasmatocytes to crystal cells in the lymph gland of Drosophila melanogaster

ABSTRACT: Under homeostatic conditions, haematopoiesis in Drosophila larvae occurs in the lymph gland and sessile haemocyte clusters to produce two functionally and morphologically different cells: plasmatocytes and crystal cells. It is well-established that in the lymph gland both cell types stem from a binary decision of the medullary prohaemocyte precursors. However, in sessile clusters and dorsal vessel, crystal cells have been shown to originate from the transdifferentiation of plasmatocytes in a Notch/Serrate dependent manner. We show that transdifferentiation occurs also in the lymph gland. In vivo phagocytosis assays confirm that cortical plasmatocytes are functionally differentiated phagocytic cells. We uncover a double positive population in the cortical zone that lineage-tracing and long-

SUBMITTER: Julien Marcetteau 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44319-025-00366-Z | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other