1
|
von Bredow YM, Prochazkova P, Dvorak J, Skanta F, Trenczek TE, Bilej M, von Bredow CR. Differential expression of immunity-related genes in larval Manduca sexta tissues in response to gut and systemic infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1258142. [PMID: 37900309 PMCID: PMC10603244 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1258142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The midgut epithelium functions as tissue for nutrient uptake as well as physical barrier against pathogens. Additionally, it responds to pathogen contact by production and release of various factors including antimicrobial peptides, similar to the systemic innate immune response. However, if such a response is restricted to a local stimulus or if it appears in response to a systemic infection, too is a rather underexplored topic in insect immunity. We addressed the role of the midgut and the role of systemic immune tissues in the defense against gut-borne and systemic infections, respectively. Methods Manduca sexta larvae were challenged with DAP-type peptidoglycan bacteria - Bacillus thuringiensis for local gut infection and Escherichia coli for systemic stimulation. We compared the immune response to both infection models by measuring mRNA levels of four selected immunity-related genes in midgut, fat body, hematopoietic organs (HOs), and hemocytes, and determined hemolymph antimicrobial activity. Hemocytes and HOs were tested for presence and distribution of lysozyme mRNA and protein. Results The midgut and circulating hemocytes exhibited a significantly increased level of lysozyme mRNA in response to gut infection but did not significantly alter expression in response to a systemic infection. Conversely, fat body and HOs responded to both infection models by altered mRNA levels of at least one gene monitored. Most, but not all hemocytes and HO cells contain lysozyme mRNA and protein. Discussion These data suggest that the gut recruits immune-related tissues in response to gut infection whereas systemic infections do not induce a response in the midgut. The experimental approach implies a skewed cross-talk: An intestinal infection triggers immune activity in systemic immune organs, while a systemic infection does not elicit any or only a restricted immune response in the midgut. The HOs, which form and release hemocytes in larval M. sexta, i) synthesize lysozyme, and ii) respond to immune challenges by increased immune gene expression. These findings strongly suggest that they not only provide phagocytes for the cellular immune response but also synthesize humoral immune components.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yvette M. von Bredow
- Institute of Zoology and Developmental Biology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Petra Prochazkova
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jiri Dvorak
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Frantisek Skanta
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Tina E. Trenczek
- Institute of Zoology and Developmental Biology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Martin Bilej
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Christoph-Rüdiger von Bredow
- Institute of Zoology and Developmental Biology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
- Applied Zoology, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang K, Su J, Hu X, Yan X, Chen S, Li C, Pan G, Chang H, Tian W, Abbas MN, Cui H. Integrin β2 and β3: Two plasmatocyte markers deepen our understanding of the development of plasmatocytes in the silkworm Bombyx mori. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:1659-1671. [PMID: 35420711 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Insect hemocytes play important biological roles at developmental stages, metamorphosis, and innate immunity. As one of the most abundant cell types, plasmatocytes can participate in various innate immune responses, especially in encapsulation and node formation. Here, 2 molecular markers of plasmatocytes, consisting of integrin β2 and β3, were identified and used to understand the development of plasmatocytes. Plasmatocytes are widely distributed in the hematopoietic system, including circulating hemolymph and hematopoietic organs (HPOs). HPOs constantly release plasmatocytes with high proliferative activity in vitro; removal of HPOs leads to a dramatic reduction in the circulating plasmatocytes, and the remaining plasmatocytes gradually lose their ability to proliferate in vivo. Our results demonstrated that the release of plasmatocytes from HPOs is regulated by insulin-mediated signals and their downstream pathways, including PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk signals. The insulin/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway can significantly irritate the hematopoiesis, and its inhibitor LY294002 could inhibit the hemocytes discharged from HPOs. While the insulin/MAPK/Erk signaling pathway plays a negative regulatory role, inhibiting its activity with U0126 can markedly promote the discharge of plasmatocytes from HPOs. Our results indicate that the circulating plasmatocytes are mainly generated and discharged by HPOs. This process is co-regulated by the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk signals in an antagonistic manner to adjust the dynamic balance of the hemocytes. These findings can enhance our understanding of insect hematopoiesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingjing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaomin Yan
- Chongqing iCELL Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Chongqing, China
| | - Siyuan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chongyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guangzhao Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongbo Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenli Tian
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hultmark D, Andó I. Hematopoietic plasticity mapped in Drosophila and other insects. eLife 2022; 11:78906. [PMID: 35920811 PMCID: PMC9348853 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemocytes, similar to vertebrate blood cells, play important roles in insect development and immunity, but it is not well understood how they perform their tasks. New technology, in particular single-cell transcriptomic analysis in combination with Drosophila genetics, may now change this picture. This review aims to make sense of recently published data, focusing on Drosophila melanogaster and comparing to data from other drosophilids, the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, and the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Basically, the new data support the presence of a few major classes of hemocytes: (1) a highly heterogenous and plastic class of professional phagocytes with many functions, called plasmatocytes in Drosophila and granular cells in other insects. (2) A conserved class of cells that control melanin deposition around parasites and wounds, called crystal cells in D. melanogaster, and oenocytoids in other insects. (3) A new class of cells, the primocytes, so far only identified in D. melanogaster. They are related to cells of the so-called posterior signaling center of the larval hematopoietic organ, which controls the hematopoiesis of other hemocytes. (4) Different kinds of specialized cells, like the lamellocytes in D. melanogaster, for the encapsulation of parasites. These cells undergo rapid evolution, and the homology relationships between such cells in different insects are uncertain. Lists of genes expressed in the different hemocyte classes now provide a solid ground for further investigation of function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Hultmark
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - István Andó
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Genetics, Innate Immunity Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
von Bredow YM, Müller A, Popp PF, Iliasov D, von Bredow CR. Characterization and mode of action analysis of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larva-derived hemocytes. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:1071-1095. [PMID: 34687131 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
With the growing importance of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) for both sustainable food production and waste management as well as for science, a great demand of understanding its immune system arises. Here, we present the first description of the circulating larval hemocytes with special emphasis on uptake of microorganisms and distinguishing hemocyte types. With histological, zymographic, and cytometric methods and with a set of hemocyte binding lectins and antibodies, the hemocytes of H. illucens are identified as plasmatocytes, crystal cells, and putative prohemocytes. Total hemocyte counts (THC) are determined, and methods for THC determination are compared. Approximately 1100 hemocytes per microliter hemolymph are present in naive animals, while hemocyte density decreases dramatically shortly after wounding, indicating a role of hemocytes in response to wounding (and immune response in general). The determination of the relative abundance of each hemocyte type (differential hemocyte count, DHC) revealed that plasmatocytes are highly abundant, whereas prohemocytes and crystal cells make up only a small percentage of the circulating cells. Plasmatocytes are not only the most abundant but also the professional phagocytes in H. illucens. They rapidly engulf and take up bacteria both in vivo and in vitro, indicating a very potent cellular defense against invading pathogens. Larger bioparticles such as yeasts are also removed from circulation by phagocytosis, but slower than bacteria. This is the first analysis of the potent cellular immune response in the black soldier fly, and a first toolbox that helps to identify hemocyte (types) is presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yvette M von Bredow
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Institut für Allgemeine Zoologie und Entwicklungsbiologie, Zelluläre Erkennungs- und Abwehrprozesse, Gießen, Germany
| | - Ariane Müller
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Biologie, Institut für Zoologie, Dresden, Germany
| | - Philipp F Popp
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Biologie, Institut für Mikrobiologie, Dresden, Germany
- Present address: Philipp F. Popp, Institute for Biology-Bacterial Physiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Denis Iliasov
- Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Biologie, Institut für Mikrobiologie, Dresden, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wu X, Wu Z, Ye X, Pang L, Sheng Y, Wang Z, Zhou Y, Zhu J, Hu R, Zhou S, Chen J, Wang Z, Shi M, Huang J, Chen X. The Dual Functions of a Bracovirus C-Type Lectin in Caterpillar Immune Response Manipulation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:877027. [PMID: 35663984 PMCID: PMC9157488 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.877027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitoids are widespread in natural ecosystems and normally equipped with diverse viral factors to defeat host immune responses. On the other hand, parasitoids can enhance the antibacterial abilities and improve the hypoimmunity traits of parasitized hosts that may encounter pathogenic infections. These adaptive strategies guarantee the survival of parasitoid offspring, yet their underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we focused on Cotesia vestalis, an endoparasitoid of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella, and found that C. vestalis parasitization decreases the number of host hemocytes, leading to disruption of the encapsulation reaction. We further found that one bracovirus C-type lectin gene, CvBV_28-1, is highly expressed in the hemocytes of parasitized hosts and participates in suppressing the proliferation rate of host hemocytes, which in turn reduces their population and represses the process of encapsulation. Moreover, CvBV_28-1 presents a classical bacterial clearance ability via the agglutination response in a Ca2+-dependent manner in response to gram-positive bacteria. Our study provides insights into the innovative strategy of a parasitoid-derived viral gene that has dual functions to manipulate host immunity for a successful parasitism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Wu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Guangdong Lab for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Wu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiqian Ye
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Guangdong Lab for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lan Pang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yifeng Sheng
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuenan Zhou
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiachen Zhu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rongmin Hu
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sicong Zhou
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiani Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhizhi Wang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Guangdong Lab for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Shi
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Guangdong Lab for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,State Key Lab of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianhua Huang
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Guangdong Lab for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,State Key Lab of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuexin Chen
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Guangdong Lab for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.,Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,State Key Lab of Rice Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Feng M, Swevers L, Sun J. Hemocyte Clusters Defined by scRNA-Seq in Bombyx mori: In Silico Analysis of Predicted Marker Genes and Implications for Potential Functional Roles. Front Immunol 2022; 13:852702. [PMID: 35281044 PMCID: PMC8914287 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.852702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Within the hemolymph, insect hemocytes constitute a heterogeneous population of macrophage-like cells that play important roles in innate immunity, homeostasis and development. Classification of hemocytes in different subtypes by size, morphology and biochemical or immunological markers has been difficult and only in Drosophila extensive genetic analysis allowed the construction of a coherent picture of hemocyte differentiation from pro-hemocytes to granulocytes, crystal cells and plasmatocytes. However, the advent of high-throughput single cell technologies, such as single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), is bound to have a high impact on the study of hemocytes subtypes and their phenotypes in other insects for which a sophisticated genetic toolbox is not available. Instead of averaging gene expression across all cells as occurs in bulk-RNA-seq, scRNA-seq allows high-throughput and specific visualization of the differentiation status of individual cells. With scRNA-seq, interesting cell types can be identified in heterogeneous populations and direct analysis of rare cell types is possible. Next to its ability to profile the transcriptomes of individual cells in tissue samples, scRNA-seq can be used to propose marker genes that are characteristic of different hemocyte subtypes and predict their functions. In this perspective, the identities of the different marker genes that were identified by scRNA-seq analysis to define 13 distinct cell clusters of hemocytes in larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, are discussed in detail. The analysis confirms the broad division of hemocytes in granulocytes, plasmatocytes, oenocytoids and perhaps spherulocytes but also reveals considerable complexity at the molecular level and highly specialized functions. In addition, predicted hemocyte marker genes in Bombyx generally show only limited convergence with the genes that are considered characteristic for hemocyte subtypes in Drosophila.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luc Swevers
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences & Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Jingchen Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|