Signaling role of hemocytes in Drosophila JAK/STAT-dependent response to septic injury

Dev Cell. 2003 Sep;5(3):441-50. doi: 10.1016/s1534-5807(03)00244-2.

Abstract

To characterize the features of JAK/STAT signaling in Drosophila immune response, we have identified totA as a gene that is regulated by the JAK/STAT pathway in response to septic injury. We show that septic injury triggers the hemocyte-specific expression of upd3, a gene encoding a novel Upd-like cytokine that is necessary for the JAK/STAT-dependent activation of totA in the Drosophila counterpart of the mammalian liver, the fat body. In addition, we demonstrate that totA activation also requires the NF-KB-like Relish pathway, indicating that fat body cells integrate the activity of NF-KB and JAK/STAT signaling pathways upon immune response. This study reveals that, in addition to the pattern recognition receptor-mediated NF-KB-dependent immune response, Drosophila undergoes a complex systemic response that is mediated by the production of cytokines in blood cells, a process that is similar to the acute phase response in mammals.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / cytology
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds / metabolism
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Drosophila
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Fat Body / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Hemocytes / metabolism
  • Hemocytes / physiology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Infections
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Interleukin / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Trans-Activators / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Bridged-Ring Compounds
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Insect Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • Rel protein, Drosophila
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • dome protein, Drosophila
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • tetramethylenedisulfotetramine