Abstract
Phagocytosis is an ancient, highly conserved process in all multicellular organisms, through which the host can protect itself against invading microorganisms and environmental particles, as well as remove self-apoptotic cells/cell debris to maintain tissue homeostasis. In crustacean, phagocytosis by hemocyte has also been well-recognized as a crucial defense mechanism for the host against infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge of hemocyte-mediated phagocytosis, in particular focusing on the related receptors for recognition and internalization of pathogens as well as the downstream signal pathways and intracellular regulators involved in the process of hemocyte phagocytosis. We attempted to gain a deeper understanding of the phagocytic mechanism of different hemocytes and their contribution to the host defense immunity in crustaceans.
Highlights
The fundamental theory of phagocytosis was first described by Élie Metchnikoff in 1882, which has been gradually established and well-understood over the past two centuries [1]
We summarized the recent progress about phagocytosis of pathogens by hemocyte in crustaceans, in particular focusing on the novel findings about related receptors for recognition and internalization of pathogens as well as the downstream signal pathways and intracellular regulators involved in the process of hemocyte phagocytosis
It has been reported that lectins can act as opsonin or receptors in crustaceans to participate in the phagocytosis of foreign pathogens, including several bacteria and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) [21]
Summary
The fundamental theory of phagocytosis was first described by Élie Metchnikoff in 1882, which has been gradually established and well-understood over the past two centuries [1]. We summarized and discussed the recent advances on the involvement of related receptors or opsonin of hemocytes and their mediating recognition of pathogens in crustaceans.
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