title: Critical evaluation of the role of the Toll-like receptor 18-Wheeler in the host defense of Drosophila.
abstract: Essential aspects of innate immune responses to microbial infections appear to be conserved between insects and mammals. In particular, in both groups, transmembrane receptors of the Toll superfamily play a crucial role in activating immune defenses. The Drosophila Toll family member 18-Wheeler had been proposed to sense Gram-negative infection and direct selective expression of peptides active against Gram-negative bacteria. Here we re-examine the role of 18-Wheeler and show that in adults it is dispensable for immune responses. In larvae, 18wheeler is required for normal fat body development, and in mutant larvae induction of all antimicrobial peptide genes, and not only of those directed against Gram-negative bacteria, is compromised. 18-Wheeler does not qualify as a pattern recognition receptor of Gram-negative bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Moléculaire and Cellulaire, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ligoxygakis
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bulet
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reichhart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D005216:Fat Body / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: C094464:18w protein, Drosophila; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C488990:AttA protein, Drosophila; C488991:AttB protein, Drosophila; C488989:AttC protein, Drosophila; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C039711:attacin antibacterial protein, insect