Mosquito phenoloxidase and defensin colocalize in melanization innate immune responses
Autor(es): Hillyer, JF; Christensen, BM
Resumo: Mosquitoes mount strong humoral and cellular immune responses against foreign organisms. Two components of the mosquito immune response that have received much attention are the phenoloxidase cascade that leads to melanization and antimicrobial peptides. The purpose of the current study was to use immunocytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy to identify the location of the melanization rate-limiting enzyme phenoloxidase and the antimicrobial peptide defensin in innate immune reactions against Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Our results show that both phenoloxidase and defensin are present at the sites of melanin biosynthesis in immune reactions against bacteria. Furthermore, both proteins are often present inside the same melanotic capsules. When hemocytes were analyzed, phenoloxidase was present in the cytosol of oenocytoids, but no significant amounts of defensin were detected inside any hemocytes. In summary, these data show that phenoloxidase and defensin colocalize in melanization reactions against bacteria and argue for further studies into the potential role of defensin in phenoloxidase-based melanization innate immune responses in mosquitoes.
Palavras-Chave: Vector Anopheles gambiae; Aedes aegypti; Armigeres subalbatus; Melanotic encapsulation; Brugia malayi; Insect immunity; Malaria; Microfilariae; Activation; Expression
Imprenta: Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry , v. 53, n. 6, p. 689-698, 2005
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1369/jhc.4A6564.2005
Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Biochemistry ; Aedes aegypti - Biosynthesis ; Aedes aegypti - Cell ; Aedes aegypti - Immune response ; Aedes aegypti - Molecular structure ; Aedes aegypti - Proteins ; Aedes aegypti - Immunology
Data de publicação: 2005
