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Role for phagocytosis in the prevention of neoplastic transformation in Drosophila
Author(s) -
Zhang Min,
Nagaosa Kaz,
Nakai Yuji,
Yasugi Tetsuo,
Kushihiki Masako,
Rahmatika Dini,
Sato Makoto,
Shiratsuchi Akiko,
Nakanishi Yoshinobu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
genes to cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1365-2443
pISSN - 1356-9597
DOI - 10.1111/gtc.12804
Subject(s) - biology , phagocytosis , apoptosis , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , neoplastic transformation , immunology , transformation (genetics) , immunity , receptor , cell cycle , malignant transformation , gene , cell , innate immune system , cancer research , carcinogenesis , genetics
Immunity is considered to be involved in the prevention of cancer. Although both humoral and cellular immune reactions may participate, underlying mechanisms have yet to be clarified. The present study was conducted to clarify this issue using a Drosophila model, in which neoplastic transformation was induced through the simultaneous inhibition of cell‐cycle checkpoints and apoptosis. We first determined the location of hemocytes, blood cells of Drosophila playing a role of immune cells, in neoplasia‐induced and normal larvae, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. When gene expression pattern in larval hemocytes was determined, the expression of immunity‐related genes including those necessary for phagocytosis was reduced in the neoplasia model. We then asked the involvement of phagocytosis in the prevention of neoplasia examining animals where the expression of engulfment receptors instead of apoptosis was retarded. We found that the inhibition of engulfment receptor expression augmented the occurrence of neoplasia induced by a defect in cell‐cycle checkpoints. This suggested a role for phagocytosis in the prevention of neoplastic transformation in Drosophila .