Infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Larvae With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Induces Apoptosis of Hemocytes and Affects the Concentration of Eicosanoids in the Hemolymph
Apoptosis and autophagy, the mechanisms of programmed cell death, play critical roles in physiological and pathological processes in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Apoptosis is also known to play an important role in the immune response, particularly in the context of entomopathogenic infection...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.774086/full |
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| author | Anna Katarzyna Wrońska Agata Kaczmarek Michalina Kazek Mieczysława Irena Boguś Mieczysława Irena Boguś |
| author_facet | Anna Katarzyna Wrońska Agata Kaczmarek Michalina Kazek Mieczysława Irena Boguś Mieczysława Irena Boguś |
| author_sort | Anna Katarzyna Wrońska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Apoptosis and autophagy, the mechanisms of programmed cell death, play critical roles in physiological and pathological processes in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Apoptosis is also known to play an important role in the immune response, particularly in the context of entomopathogenic infection. Of the factors influencing the apoptotic process during infection, two of the lesser known groups are caspases and eicosanoids. The aim of this study was to determine whether infection by the entomopathogenic soil fungus Conidiobolus coronatus is associated with apoptosis and changes in caspase activity in the hemocytes of Galleria mellonella larvae, and to confirm whether fungal infection may affect eicosanoid levels in the host. Larvae were exposed for 24 h to fully grown and sporulating fungus. Hemolymph was collected either immediately after termination of exposure (F24 group) or 24 h later (F48 group). Apoptosis/necrosis tests were performed in hemocytes using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, while ELISA tests were used to measure eicosanoid levels. Apoptosis and necrosis occurred to the same degree in F24, but necrosis predominated in F48. Fungal infection resulted in caspase activation, increased PGE1, PGE2, PGA1, PGF2α, and 8-iso-PGF2α levels and decreased TXB2 levels, but had no effect on TXA2 or 11-dehydro-TXB2 concentrations. In addition, infected larvae demonstrated significantly increased PLA2 activity, known to be involved in eicosanoid biosynthesis. Our findings indicate that fungal infection simultaneously induces apoptosis in insects and stimulates general caspase activity, and this may be correlated with changes in the concentrations of eicosanoids. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:30:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6eec3066a116439e809166c9b39c9651 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:30:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6eec3066a116439e809166c9b39c96512022-12-22T04:04:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2022-01-011210.3389/fphys.2021.774086774086Infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Larvae With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Induces Apoptosis of Hemocytes and Affects the Concentration of Eicosanoids in the HemolymphAnna Katarzyna Wrońska0Agata Kaczmarek1Michalina Kazek2Mieczysława Irena Boguś3Mieczysława Irena Boguś4Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandWitold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandWitold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandWitold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandBIOMIBO, Warsaw, PolandApoptosis and autophagy, the mechanisms of programmed cell death, play critical roles in physiological and pathological processes in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Apoptosis is also known to play an important role in the immune response, particularly in the context of entomopathogenic infection. Of the factors influencing the apoptotic process during infection, two of the lesser known groups are caspases and eicosanoids. The aim of this study was to determine whether infection by the entomopathogenic soil fungus Conidiobolus coronatus is associated with apoptosis and changes in caspase activity in the hemocytes of Galleria mellonella larvae, and to confirm whether fungal infection may affect eicosanoid levels in the host. Larvae were exposed for 24 h to fully grown and sporulating fungus. Hemolymph was collected either immediately after termination of exposure (F24 group) or 24 h later (F48 group). Apoptosis/necrosis tests were performed in hemocytes using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, while ELISA tests were used to measure eicosanoid levels. Apoptosis and necrosis occurred to the same degree in F24, but necrosis predominated in F48. Fungal infection resulted in caspase activation, increased PGE1, PGE2, PGA1, PGF2α, and 8-iso-PGF2α levels and decreased TXB2 levels, but had no effect on TXA2 or 11-dehydro-TXB2 concentrations. In addition, infected larvae demonstrated significantly increased PLA2 activity, known to be involved in eicosanoid biosynthesis. Our findings indicate that fungal infection simultaneously induces apoptosis in insects and stimulates general caspase activity, and this may be correlated with changes in the concentrations of eicosanoids.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.774086/fullGalleria mellonellaConidiobolus coronatuseicosanoidsapoptosisnecrosisinsects hemocytes |
| spellingShingle | Anna Katarzyna Wrońska Agata Kaczmarek Michalina Kazek Mieczysława Irena Boguś Mieczysława Irena Boguś Infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Larvae With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Induces Apoptosis of Hemocytes and Affects the Concentration of Eicosanoids in the Hemolymph Frontiers in Physiology Galleria mellonella Conidiobolus coronatus eicosanoids apoptosis necrosis insects hemocytes |
| title | Infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Larvae With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Induces Apoptosis of Hemocytes and Affects the Concentration of Eicosanoids in the Hemolymph |
| title_full | Infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Larvae With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Induces Apoptosis of Hemocytes and Affects the Concentration of Eicosanoids in the Hemolymph |
| title_fullStr | Infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Larvae With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Induces Apoptosis of Hemocytes and Affects the Concentration of Eicosanoids in the Hemolymph |
| title_full_unstemmed | Infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Larvae With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Induces Apoptosis of Hemocytes and Affects the Concentration of Eicosanoids in the Hemolymph |
| title_short | Infection of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera) Larvae With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Conidiobolus coronatus (Entomophthorales) Induces Apoptosis of Hemocytes and Affects the Concentration of Eicosanoids in the Hemolymph |
| title_sort | infection of galleria mellonella lepidoptera larvae with the entomopathogenic fungus conidiobolus coronatus entomophthorales induces apoptosis of hemocytes and affects the concentration of eicosanoids in the hemolymph |
| topic | Galleria mellonella Conidiobolus coronatus eicosanoids apoptosis necrosis insects hemocytes |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.774086/full |
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