Infection-Induced Interaction between the Mosquito Circulatory and Immune Systems

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003058
• Publication Date: 2012-11-29T23:15:45Z
• Authors: Jonas G. King; Julián F. Hillyer
• Keywords: Hemolymph

Insects counter infection with innate immune responses that rely on cells called hemocytes. Hemocytes exist in association the insect's open circulatory system and this mode of existence has likely influenced organization control anti-pathogen responses. Previous studies reported pathogens mosquito body cavity (hemocoel) accumulate surface heart. Using novel cell staining, microdissection intravital imaging techniques, we investigated mechanism pathogen accumulation pericardium malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, discovered a insect tissue, herein named periostial hemocytes, sequesters as they flow hemolymph. Specifically, show there are two types endocytic flank heart: hemocytes pericardial cells. Resident engage rapid phagocytosis pathogens, during course bacterial or Plasmodium infection, circulating migrate to regions where bind cardiac musculature each other, continue invaders. Periostial hemocyte aggregation occurs time- dose-dependent manner, once process is triggered, number remains elevated for lifetime mosquito. Finally, soluble elicitors peptidoglycan β-1,3-glucan also induce aggregation, indicating generalized basal response induced by diverse stimuli. These data describe cellular fundamentally relies physiological interaction between systems.