biostudies-literatureUnknown4Sajadi FThe insect ion transport peptide (ITP) and its alternatively spliced variant, ITP-like peptide (ITP-L), belong to the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone family of peptides and are widely conserved among insect species. While limited, studies have characterized the ITP/ITP-L signaling system within insects, and putative functions including regulation of ion and fluid transport, ovarian maturation, and thirst/excretion have been proposed. Herein, we aimed to molecularly investigate <i>Itp</i> and <i>Itp-l</i> expression profiles in the mosquito, <i>Aedes aegypti</i>, examine peptide immunolocalization and distribution within the adult central nervous system, and elucidate physiological roles for these neuropeptides. Transcript expression profiles of both <i>AedaeItp</i> and <i>AedaeItp-l</i> revealed distinct enrichment patterns in adults, with <i>AedaeItp</i> expressed in the brain and <i>AedaeItp-l</i> expression predominantly within the abdominal ganglia. Immunohistochemical analysis within the central nervous system revealed expression of <i>Aedae</i>ITP peptide in a number of cells in the brain and in the terminal ganglion. Comparatively, <i>Aedae</i>ITP-L peptide was localized solely within the pre-terminal abdominal ganglia of the central nervous system. Interestingly, prolonged desiccation stress caused upregulation of <i>AedaeItp</i> and <i>AedaeItp-l</i> levels in adult mosquitoes, suggesting possible functional roles in water conservation and feeding-related activities. RNAi-mediated knockdown of <i>AedaeItp</i> caused an increase in urine excretion, while knockdown of both <i>AedaeItp</i> and <i>AedaeItp-l</i> reduced blood feeding and egg-laying in females as well as hindered egg viability, suggesting roles in reproductive physiology and behavior. Altogether, this study identifies <i>Aedae</i>ITP and <i>Aedae</i>ITP-L as key pleiotropic hormones, regulating various critical physiological processes in the disease vector, <i>A. aegypti</i>.Frontiers in insect science1374325https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11035804biostudies-literatureMolecular characterization, localization, and physiological roles of ITP and ITP-L in the mosquito, <i>Aedes aegypti</i>.PMC11035804Sajadi FPaluzzi JVfalseMolecular characterization, localization, and physiological roles of ITP and ITP-L in the mosquito, <i>Aedes aegypti</i>.The insect ion transport peptide (ITP) and its alternatively spliced variant, ITP-like peptide (ITP-L), belong to the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone family of peptides and are widely conserved among insect species. While limited, studies have characterized the ITP/ITP-L signaling system within insects, and putative functions including regulation of ion and fluid transport, ovarian maturation, and thirst/excretion have been proposed. Herein, we aimed to molecularly investigate <i>Itp</i> and <i>Itp-l</i> expression profiles in the mosquito, <i>Aedes aegypti</i>, examine peptide immunolocalization and distribution within the adult central nervous system, and elucidate physiological roles for these neuropeptides. Transcript expression profiles of both <i>AedaeItp</i> and <i>AedaeItp-l</i> revealed distinct enrichment patterns in adults, with <i>AedaeItp</i> expressed in the brain and <i>AedaeItp-l</i> expression predominantly within the abdominal ganglia. Immunohistochemical analysis within the central nervous system revealed expression of <i>Aedae</i>ITP peptide in a number of cells in the brain and in the terminal ganglion. Comparatively, <i>Aedae</i>ITP-L peptide was localized solely within the pre-terminal abdominal ganglia of the central nervous system. Interestingly, prolonged desiccation stress caused upregulation of <i>AedaeItp</i> and <i>AedaeItp-l</i> levels in adult mosquitoes, suggesting possible functional roles in water conservation and feeding-related activities. RNAi-mediated knockdown of <i>AedaeItp</i> caused an increase in urine excretion, while knockdown of both <i>AedaeItp</i> and <i>AedaeItp-l</i> reduced blood feeding and egg-laying in females as well as hindered egg viability, suggesting roles in reproductive physiology and behavior. Altogether, this study identifies <i>Aedae</i>ITP and <i>Aedae</i>ITP-L as key pleiotropic hormones, regulating various critical physiological processes in the disease vector, <i>A. aegypti</i>.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242026-06-01T08:07:58.751Z2026-04-08T10:56:31.881ZS-EPMC110358043865474810.3389/finsc.2024.1374325