title: Locust cellular defense against infections: sites of pathogen clearance and hemocyte proliferation.
abstract: The locust cellular defense is mediated by hemocytes and hematopoietic tissue. In Locusta migratoria, the hemocytes and hematopoietic tissue mutually assist each other in clearing invading pathogens from circulation. A β-1, 3-glucan infection induces nodule formation and apoptotic, TUNEL positive, cells in the hematopoietic tissue and massive loss of hemocytes in the circulation, calling for instant proliferation of hemocytes and hematopoietic tissue cells to assure continued host cellular defense. As the locust hematopoietic tissue persists at the adult stage, it was originally designated as being the major source for the replenishment process. Revisiting post infection hemocyte proliferation, using immunofluorescence based tests for DNA synthesis and mitosis, evidenced the lack of β-1, 3-glucan induced cell proliferation in the hematopoietic tissue. Instead these tests identified the circulating hemocytes as the major source for hemocyte replenishment in the circulation. The hematopoietic tissue, however, undergoes a continuous, slow and infection independent regeneration, thereby accumulating potential phagocytes despite infection, and might serve a prophylactic role in containing pathogens in this swarming insect.
authors.affiliation: Section of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Research group of Insect Physiology and Molecular Ethology, Biology Department, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: TewodrosFirdissa.Duressa@bio.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Tewodros Firdissa
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Duressa
authors.affiliation: Section of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Research group of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Biology Department, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanlaer
authors.affiliation: Section of Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Research group of Insect Physiology and Molecular Ethology, Biology Department, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Roger.Huybrechts@bio.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006413:Hematopoietic System / Q000276:immunology; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D048188:Locusta migratoria / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012505:Sarcina / Q000276:immunology; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C010770:polysaccharide-K
keywords: Cellular immunity; Hematopoietic tissue; Hemocyte proliferation; Locusta migratoria; Orthoptera