title: Drosophila blood cell chemotaxis.
abstract: Drosophila melanogaster contains a population of blood cells called hemocytes that represent the functional equivalent of vertebrate macrophages. These cells undergo directed migrations to disperse during development and reach sites of tissue damage or altered self. These chemotactic behaviors are controlled by the expression of PDGF/Vegf-related ligands in developing embryos and local production of hydrogen peroxide at wounds. Recent work reveals that many molecules important in vertebrate cell motility, including integrins, formins, Ena/VASP proteins and the SCAR/WAVE complex, have a conserved function in these innate immune cells. The use of this model organism has elucidated how damage signals are activated by calcium signaling during inflammation and that the steroid hormone ecdysone activates immune competence at key developmental stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection and Immunity, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK; The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
authors.forename: Iwan Robert
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK. Electronic address: w.wood@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002633:Chemotaxis; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins