Isolation and characterization of an IL-1-like protein from Manduca sexta.

Abstract

Invertebrates such as insects have similar immune systems when compared to vertebrates, which are composed of humoral and cell-mediated responses (Pathak, 1993). Humoral response involves the synthesis and release of antibacterial peptides such as lysozyme, cecropins, and attacins. Cell-mediated response involves phagocytosis, nodule formation, and encapsulation of foreign antigens. Phagocytosis is an ancient form of host defense, a process in which a cell, usually macrophage, ingests a foreign antigen. This process can be observed in both vertebrates and invertebrate immune systems. In insects, plasmatocytes and granular hemocytes are the main cells with phagocytic activity. However, invertebrates do not have antigen-specific lymphocytes and do not produce specific immune recognition molecules (immunoglobins) (Abbas et al., 1997). Some invertebrate species contain macrophage-like cells capable of producing cytokine-like molecules similar to that of vertebrate (Beck and Habicht, 1986; Ellis, 1996). Cytokines are low molecular weight proteins, some examples are the members of the interleukin (IL) family, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon (INF) to name a few. Their role in the vertebrate immune response includes control of cellular proliferation and differentiation, and regulation of hematopoiesis (Abbas et al., 1997).KeywordsA375 CellElution VolumeForeign AntigenSingle Protein BandApproximate Molecular WeightThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.