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Extracellular matrix proteins Pericardin and Lonely heart mediate periostial hemocyte aggregation in the mosquito

Cole J Meier1, Shabbir Ahmed1, Jordyn S Barr1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.

Developmental and Comparative Immunology
|June 26, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac extracellular matrix proteins, Pericardin (Prc) and Lonely heart (Loh), are crucial for directing immune cell (hemocyte) migration to the mosquito heart during infection. Their absence impairs this vital immune response.

Area of Science:

  • Insect immunology
  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • Extracellular matrix biology

Background:

  • Infections trigger hemocyte migration to insect hearts, where they aggregate at ostia to combat pathogens.
  • The roles of cardiac extracellular matrix proteins in this immune cell aggregation are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if Pericardin (Prc) and Lonely heart (Loh) regulate infection-induced hemocyte aggregation at the mosquito heart.
  • To determine the cardiac specificity of Prc and Loh function in immune responses.

Main Methods:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) was used to silence Prc and Loh genes in An. gambiae mosquitoes.
  • Hemocyte populations and distribution were analyzed in infected and uninfected mosquitoes.
  • Melanin levels and infection intensity were assessed post-challenge.

Main Results:

  • Silencing Prc or Loh reduced infection-induced hemocyte migration to the heart.
  • These proteins did not affect resident hemocyte populations or their distribution in uninfected mosquitoes.
  • Prc and Loh knockdown did not alter melanin production or early infection intensity, indicating a specific role in hemocyte trafficking.

Conclusions:

  • Pericardin and Lonely heart are positive regulators of infection-induced hemocyte migration to the mosquito heart.
  • Their function appears to be cardiac-specific, influencing immune cell trafficking rather than overall immune intensity or melanin production.

Keywords:
Anopheles gambiaeExtracellular matrixHeartHemocyteMosquito immunityOstia

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