@article{tzou_tissue-specific_2000b,
title = {Tissue-specific inducible expression of antimicrobial peptide genes in Drosophila surface epithelia},
author = {P. Tzou and S. Ohresser and Dominique Ferrandon and Maria Capovilla and Jean-Marc Reichhart and Bruno Lemaitre and Jules A. Hoffmann and Jean-Luc Imler},
issn = {1074-7613},
year = {2000},
date = {2000-01-01},
journal = {Immunity},
volume = {13},
pages = {737--48.},
abstract = {The production of antimicrobial peptides is an important aspect of host defense in multicellular organisms. In Drosophila, seven antimicrobial peptides with different spectra of activities are synthesized by the fat body during the immune response and secreted into the hemolymph. Using GFP reporter transgenes, we show here that all seven Drosophila antimicrobial peptides can be induced in surface epithelia in a tissue-specific manner. The imd gene plays a critical role in the activation of this local response to infection. In particular, drosomycin expression, which is regulated by the Toll pathway during the systemic response, is regulated by imd in the respiratory tract, thus demonstrating the existence of distinct regulatory mechanisms for local and systemic induction of antimicrobial peptide genes in Drosophila.},
keywords = {*Genes, Animal, Anti-Infective Agents/*immunology/metabolism, Drosophila/genetics/*immunology, Gene Expression Regulation/*immunology, Genes, Glycoside Hydrolases/immunology, Human, Insect, Insect Proteins/genetics/immunology, Non-U.S. Gov't, Organ Specificity, P.H.S., Reporter, Support, Transfection, U.S. Gov't},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The production of antimicrobial peptides is an important aspect of host defense in multicellular organisms. In Drosophila, seven antimicrobial peptides with different spectra of activities are synthesized by the fat body during the immune response and secreted into the hemolymph. Using GFP reporter transgenes, we show here that all seven Drosophila antimicrobial peptides can be induced in surface epithelia in a tissue-specific manner. The imd gene plays a critical role in the activation of this local response to infection. In particular, drosomycin expression, which is regulated by the Toll pathway during the systemic response, is regulated by imd in the respiratory tract, thus demonstrating the existence of distinct regulatory mechanisms for local and systemic induction of antimicrobial peptide genes in Drosophila.
@article{ferrandon_drosomycin-gfp_1998,
title = {A drosomycin-GFP reporter transgene reveals a local immune response in Drosophila that is not dependent on the Toll pathway},
author = { Dominique Ferrandon and Alain C. Jung and M. Criqui and Bruno Lemaitre and S. Uttenweiler-Joseph and Lydia Michaut and Jean-Marc Reichhart and Jules A. Hoffmann},
doi = {10.1093/emboj/17.5.1217},
issn = {0261-4189},
year = {1998},
date = {1998-08-01},
journal = {EMBO J.},
volume = {17},
number = {5},
pages = {1217--1227},
abstract = {A hallmark of the systemic antimicrobial response of Drosophila is the synthesis by the fat body of several antimicrobial peptides which are released into the hemolymph in response to a septic injury. One of these peptides, drosomycin, is active primarily against fungi. Using a drosomycin-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene, we now show that in addition to the fat body, a variety of epithelial tissues that are in direct contact with the external environment, including those of the respiratory, digestive and reproductive tracts, can express the antifungal peptide, suggesting a local response to infections affecting these barrier tissues. As is the case for vertebrate epithelia, insect epithelia appear to be more than passive physical barriers and are likely to constitute an active component of innate immunity. We also show that, in contrast to the systemic antifungal response, this local immune response is independent of the Toll pathway.},
keywords = {Bacteria, Cell Surface, Developmental, Digestive System, Epithelium, Fat Body, Female, Fungal, Gene Expression Regulation, Genes, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Insect Proteins, Larva, Luminescent Proteins, Male, Membrane Glycoproteins, Organ Specificity, Receptors, Reporter, Respiratory System, Spores, Toll-Like Receptors, Trachea, Transgenes},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
A hallmark of the systemic antimicrobial response of Drosophila is the synthesis by the fat body of several antimicrobial peptides which are released into the hemolymph in response to a septic injury. One of these peptides, drosomycin, is active primarily against fungi. Using a drosomycin-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene, we now show that in addition to the fat body, a variety of epithelial tissues that are in direct contact with the external environment, including those of the respiratory, digestive and reproductive tracts, can express the antifungal peptide, suggesting a local response to infections affecting these barrier tissues. As is the case for vertebrate epithelia, insect epithelia appear to be more than passive physical barriers and are likely to constitute an active component of innate immunity. We also show that, in contrast to the systemic antifungal response, this local immune response is independent of the Toll pathway.
