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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
Published on: September 13, 2024
A BTB domain-containing gene is upregulated by immune challenge
Gang Wang1, Peng-Cheng Liu, Jin-Xing Wang
1Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cells and Developmental Biology, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
This study identifies HaBBP as a gene regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signaling. HaBBP plays a role in insect innate immunity, particularly in hemocytes and the fat body during development.
Area of Science:
- Entomology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is a key insect developmental hormone.
- The precise mechanisms by which 20E influences insect innate immunity are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the HaBBP gene in Helicoverpa armigera.
- To elucidate the regulation of HaBBP by 20E and its involvement in insect immunity.
Main Methods:
- Gene cloning and characterization of HaBBP.
- RT-PCR and Western blot analyses to determine HaBBP expression levels.
- Investigating HaBBP regulation by 20E signaling pathway components (EcR-B1, USP1) and immune stimulation.
Main Results:
- HaBBP possesses BTB, BACK, and PHR domains and is expressed in the fat body and hemocytes, with elevated levels during molting and metamorphosis.
- 20E upregulates HaBBP expression in hemocytes.
- Knockdown of EcR-B1 and USP1 inhibits HaBBP transcription.
- HaBBP is present in granulocytes and plasmatocytes and its expression increases upon Escherichia coli stimulation.
Conclusions:
- HaBBP is a novel gene regulated by the 20E signaling pathway in insects.
- HaBBP is likely a crucial component of the insect innate immune system.
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