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Distinct mechanisms regulate hemocyte chemotaxis during development and wound healing in Drosophila melanogaster.

TitleDistinct mechanisms regulate hemocyte chemotaxis during development and wound healing in Drosophila melanogaster.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsWood W, Faria C, Jacinto A
JournalThe Journal of cell biology
Volume173
Issue3
Pagination405-16
Date Published2006 May 8
ISSN0021-9525
KeywordsActins, Animals, Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic, Cell Movement, Chemotaxis, Chromones, Cytochalasin D, Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila Proteins, Egg Proteins, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Enzyme Inhibitors, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Hemocytes, In Situ Hybridization, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Morpholines, Mutation, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases, RNA, Small Interfering, Thiazoles, Thiazolidines, Time Factors
Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster hemocytes are highly motile macrophage-like cells that undergo a stereotypic pattern of migration to populate the whole embryo by late embryogenesis. We demonstrate that the migratory patterns of hemocytes at the embryonic ventral midline are orchestrated by chemotactic signals from the PDGF/VEGF ligands Pvf2 and -3 and that these directed migrations occur independently of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. In contrast, using both laser ablation and a novel wounding assay that allows localized treatment with inhibitory drugs, we show that PI3K is essential for hemocyte chemotaxis toward wounds and that Pvf signals and PDGF/VEGF receptor expression are not required for this rapid chemotactic response. Our results demonstrate that at least two separate mechanisms operate in D. melanogaster embryos to direct hemocyte migration and show that although PI3K is crucial for hemocytes to sense a chemotactic gradient from a wound, it is not required to sense the growth factor signals that coordinate their developmental migrations along the ventral midline during embryogenesis.

DOI10.1083/jcb.200508161
Alternate JournalJ. Cell Biol.


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